Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

Leadership Analysis: Servant Leadership

About the theory

Reference

Analysis of Gandhi via this theory

According to the grandfather of Servant Leadership, Robert Greenleaf, "The servant-leader is servant first. Becoming a servant-leader begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead . . . . The best test is this: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?" Servant leadership has been proven to be a powerful leadership styles. It is widely applied in the religious societies. However, the application of servant leadership is no limited to religious societies, many modern leaders such as Jack Lowe, Jr., CEO of TDIndustries and Max DePree, former CEO of Herman Miller, Inc. also believe in and are good examples of servant leadership. To be a servant leader, one must have some of the characters described in the Ten Characteristics for Servant Leaders. They are Listening, Empathy, Healing,  Awareness, Persuasion, Conceptualization, Foresight, Stewardship, Commitment to the Growth of People and Building Community.

"...for me, the road to salvation lies through incessant toil in the service of my country and therefore of humanity."                                - Mahatma Gandhi

Introduction

Short Biography

Leadership Analysis

Blake-Mouton's Managerial Grid

Situational Leadership Theory

Servant Leadership Theory

Charismatic Leadership Theory

Principle Centered Leadership

For more details about this theory, see reference.

Quotations

Reference Links

About This Website: This website is created by Sue Franz as a class assignment for MG648, "Leadership"  of Master of Management Program at Aquinas College.

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