Servant and Spiritual Leadership

Servant and Spiritual Leadership
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Introduction
Contemporary organizations are in this dispensation facing intense pressures, a factor that is forcing such organizations to operate in complex environments. Due to the globalized nature of economic activities and the democratization of technology, these organizations are now competing in the world’s labor markets that are intensely linked to good leadership and governance (Barbuto, & Wheeler, 2007). To confront these challenges, organizations need to develop decisive leadership approaches and styles that motivate the employees into high performances. It is also essential to determine the fact that responding to these challenges requires a transformative approach that seeks to improve the organizational effectiveness while addressing the expanded needs of the organization. The only approach viable for such organizations is in deriving appropriate leadership styles.
Spiritual and servant leadership styles are emerging paradigms that have the potential of guiding organizational transformation and development in organizations. Through these styles of leadership, an organization has the capacity to integrate the well-being of its human resources and its performances in a manner that maximizes its performance (Barbuto, & Wheeler, 2007). This paper, therefore, seeks to determine the comparison and contrast between the servant and spiritual leadership styles. Additionally, the paper will also undertake an analysis of a leadership style of a contemporary leader whose style of governance encompasses both the servant and spiritual leadership styles.
Comparison and Contrast of Servant and Spiritual Leadership
In the contemporary business world, there is an increase in interest in implementing the servant leadership theories within an organization's leadership structure since this approach entail the setting aside of a leader's self-interest for the betterment of the employees within the organization (Freeman, 2011). This approach of leadership postulates leader’s spiritual beliefs in the formation of a leader’s behaviors and values. Additionally, the model also posits the fact that spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, and the reading of the scriptures are essential in directing the behavior of a leader.
On the other hand, spiritual leadership infers to the casual theory of a spiritual leader that is based on altruistic love, vision, hope and faith, a factor that provides ground for an intrinsic motivational theorist (Freeman, 2011). Spiritual leaders have the capacity to tap into the ultimate needs of both the leader and their followers through an approach that gives meaning to an individual’s life and membership in which an individual is accepted and appreciated unconditionally within an organization. The table below provides a comparison and contrast between the spiritual and servant leadership styles. Figure 1.
Servant Leadership

Spiritual Leadership

This approach of leadership postulates leader’s spiritual beliefs in the formation of a leader’s behaviors and values.

Spiritual leadership infers to the casual theory of a spiritual leader that is based on altruistic love, vision, hope, and faith, a factor that provides ground for an intrinsic motivational theorist.

The basic purpose of the servant leadership style is based on four primary principles that give a leader the moral authority; Sacrifice, conscience thus giving the leader a moral authority, inspiration and devotion to worthy purposes, inaugurates an approach through which the ends and means are determined as inseparable and introduces a leader to a world of relationships (Nagy, 2013).

The main purpose of this style of leadership is to create visions and values within the employees of an organization, a factor that empowers the organization levels and teams and promotes the productivity and commitment of an organization (Nagy, 2013).

This leadership model is rooted in morals and values that include having a guided purpose and vision, trusting and empowering others, loving others and lastly submitting under authority.

The spiritual approach to leadership includes two fundamental elements within a leader's life; the belief that the activities of an individual have value and mining beyond self-gratification and economic benefits.

The values of a servant leader can be summed up as a concept that cares for others, the society and institutions, factors that remain essential in this form of leadership.

The spiritual form of leadership ensures that meaning is fostered in the values that include vision within a leader.

Contemporary Leaders Style Encompassing the Servant and Spiritual Leadership
It is essential to determine the fact that organizations that employ the spiritual and servant leadership approaches within their functions enable their employees to realize that they have an inner life that helps them in finding meaning in their various work areas (Parris, & Peachey, 2013).In this, organizations providing a culture in which workplace spirituality is cherished have realized that their workers feel as valued members within the organization since spiritual organizations provide approaches through which their employees make constructive contribution to their work responsibilities.
TDIndustries is an automotive company established in 1946 by Jack Lowe Sr. in Dallas. Since its inception into the American Premier Mechanical Construction as Facility Service Company, the organization has seen an immense facelift in the industry through its innovative products that result in the putting of its customers in the forefront (Parris, & Peachey, 2013).TDIndustries has recently received attention on its successes that are attributed to the institutionalization of appropriate leadership practices. The company has immensely demonstrated its strong commitment to a philosophy that initiates both the servant and spiritual; l...