Research Paper: Servant Leadership Assignment

Servant Leadership Student's Name Institution Course # and Name Professor’s Name Submission Date Introduction Leadership refers to the ability of a leader or a group of individuals to guide or influence members of an organization, followers, or citizens. Leadership is an attribute associated with seniority, ranking, or a title. It is a developable skill and anybody can attain it including those who are not currently holding a leadership position. Traditionally, leaders have been mistaken to be bosses due to their commanding habits in the presence of their inferiors. This means that the traditional perspective of leadership requires that the leader should always insist on an organization’s prosperity as the main goal. However, the impact of servant leadership cannot be underestimated because it calls for putting employees' needs first, sharing authority, and helping juniors grow significantly such that the impact of a servant leader's presence is felt for many years in the organization. Adopting a serving-first mentality enables the leader and the members of their team to experience personal growth and they feel comfortable receiving instructions. The business will also prosper and soar to higher levels because the employees are engaged and committed to achieving the goals that have been communicated to them. This paper will discuss servant leadership in the context of law enforcement and how police organizations can emulate the path taken by prosperous businesses that have benefitted from servant leadership. Leadership Traits Leadership in Police Organizations Police leaders, ranging from chiefs and commissioners to sergeants and lieutenants, play a pivotal role in shaping organizational culture, guiding strategic direction, and ensuring the effective execution of law enforcement duties. First, police officers are entrusted with significant authority to make decisions affecting public safety and security (Singh, 2022). At the same time, these individuals are also held accountable for their actions and the actions of their subordinates. For example, the use of firearms is regulated by senior police officers and any reckless behaviour must be accounted for. Wexler et al. (2007) recognize that the path of transitioning from good to great requires practicality, simplicity, and directness. The police officers are well equipped with these attributes from the training grounds hence chosen leaders should not forget to forget them when they climb hierarchy. Senior police officers can start a revolutionary catapult in police departments that will help them transition from a mediocre mentality to greatness. Known examples of police chiefs who have leveraged servant leadership to achieve unrealistic goals include Chicago Superintendent Terry Hillard who educated police officers and the community about different cultures, religions, and customs after the national terror attacks in 2001, and Kansas City’s Chief Rick Easley who focused on racial differences in creating an inclusive society (Wexler et al., 2007). Servant leadership is a crucial tool for building greater work environments, better friendships, better neighbors, and better families. Major Traits of Servant Leadership The major characteristic of servant leaders is that they put the needs of their workforce first before other needs compete for their attention. This means that they care about and are accountable to their team members. They are attentive to any lapses in their workforce by leveraging efficient methods of collecting data during all communications. Servant leadership ultimately requires excellent listening skills to decipher the information availed and act accordingly. Commitment to the workforce also necessitates signals of appreciation for the effort put in by followers. In Matthew 20:26-28, Jesus encourages his disciples to pursue greatness through service and humility (English Standard Version Bible, 2001). His proof of service was an unusual act of washing the feet of his disciples yet they looked at him as their leader. Moreover, the act of fighting for the rights and safety of others is stressed in Philippians 2:3-4. The Bible teaches that individuals should not have a vain conceit or selfish ambition (English Standard Version Bible, 2001). Servant leadership focuses on leadership development through continuous learning and growth. Dialogues between leaders and colleagues are seen as an opportunity to delve deeper into contentious subjects, challenge assumptions, and gain fresh perspectives on the information available. Servant leaders also keep an open mind to remain receptive to diverse viewpoints and alternative approaches. This allows servant leaders to have a wide range of options before making a major decision. Servant leaders also value cultivating a thirst for knowledge and progress that enables them to stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving world. They are continuously seeking opportunities for personal and professional development (Nauman et al., 2022). Additionally, awareness of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices enable leaders to anticipate challenges and seize opportunities for innovation and growth. Moreover, servant leaders are problem solvers and they aim to create an environment where solutions to challenges can be found within their teams. One of the most significant obstacles is the tendency for leaders to become preoccupied with other concerns, leading to a lack of attentiveness during conversations. Servant leaders constantly resist the temptation of bowing down to external distractions that will shift their focus away from listening to their followers. The ability of servant leaders to refrain from interrupting or imposing their ideas on their followers positions them for greater success. Servant leaders can create a conducive environment for effective communication by minimizing noise, ensuring privacy, and setting aside dedicated time for meaningful discussions. Servant leaders also use empathy to foster trust and mutual respect within the organization (Bragger et al., 2020). Expressing empathy does not require servant leaders to always agree with or adopt the opinions of others. Instead, it involves listening with an open mind, acknowledging different perspectives, and responding in a way that validates the experiences and emotions of team members and clients. Comparison The three articles give clear definitions of effective leadership and outline attributes that are associated with servant leadership most often. Servant leaders value others, are unselfish, and achieve tremendous outcomes by just gaining buy-in from their team members. However, it should be noted that leadership and servanthood should be balanced to avoid the error of giving more value to either aspect. Collins (2016) views servant leadership in a category he labeled as a level 5 leader. Servant leadership is portrayed as the key component of exercising unbiased authority to obtain desired results smartly (Meese & Ortmeier, 2001). Wexler et al. (2007) support Collins’ (2016) ideas in their book titled “Good to Great Policing” using the context of law enforcement authorities. The authors used the rank of police commanders to understand the characteristics of level 5 ...