![\"Servant_leadership1\"](\"https:\/\/berkonomics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Servant_leadership1-300x300.jpg\")
autocratic or (at the opposite end of the spectrum) laissez\u2013faire.\u00a0 More important, a servant leader involves employees in the process of decision\u2013making, focusing upon the performance and satisfaction of employees.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s a term rooted in ancient philosophy.\u00a0 Robert Greenleaf may have been the first to resurrect the concept in his book published in 1970.\u00a0 Not quite as bold as inverting the management triangle, the concept of servant leadership requires that a business manager focus upon his or her people\u2019s highest priority needs first.<\/p>\n
The question begged by the headline above is whether this form of leadership is perceived as soft, indecisive, and inappropriate for the fast\u2013moving world of today\u2019s business.<\/p>\n
A servant leader uses a participative style of management, as opposed to one that is autocratic or (at the opposite end of the spectrum) laissez\u2013faire.\u00a0 More important, a servant leader involves employees in the process of decision\u2013making, focusing upon the performance and satisfaction of employees.<\/p>\n
Doesn\u2019t sound tough or forceful enough for you?\u00a0 You are not alone.\u00a0 It is a very thin line between abdication of responsibility and participative leadership.\u00a0 The world loves bold leadership.\u00a0 Steve Jobs, who was known to be in charge of each detail in design.\u00a0 Elon Musk, who obsesses with metrics and constantly asks for employees to feed him their concerns but makes bold moves on his own.<\/p>\n
[Email readers, continue here…]<\/span> \u00a0<\/em><\/span>In technology\u2013based enterprises, the question of leadership vision becomes mixed with leadership style.\u00a0 Can a visionary leader abdicate the execution of that vision by subordinating to those who carry out the execution of that vision?\u00a0 Or must he or she be more like Jobs or Musk and stand in the center of the storm, constantly testing the execution efforts of those around?<\/p>\n There is a place for a leader as servant.\u00a0 But the perception of that leader being soft and lacking in strong leadership traits is the sure result of using this method as the leading style for a CEO.\u00a0\u00a0 It is fine as a secondary style used in tactical decision\u2013making, when strategic issues are not the focus, and where threats to corporate health or resources are not evident.<\/p>\n But those leaders who will be remembered as having changed the world, even if the world is defined as within the walls of one enterprise, are those who were clear in their ability to communicate urgency, quality and focus upon the customer \u2013 not necessarily those who delegated the best or allowed decisions to flow from management concurrence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s a term rooted in ancient philosophy.\u00a0 Robert Greenleaf may have been the first to resurrect the concept in his book published in 1970.\u00a0 Not quite as bold as inverting the management triangle, the concept of servant leadership requires that … Continue reading