Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
13th out of 29 books
—
22 voters
Servant Leadership: A Journey Into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness
A classic work on leadership for business men and women, government leaders and all persons in positions of authority.
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
January 1st 2002
by Paulist Press
(first published 1977)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
688)
Not a Book for the Weak of Heart
Servant-Leadership is rapidly becoming a popularized term and a popular concept to bandy about in many circles.
This is the book that started that trend.
Published originally in 1977, it contains articles and concepts that found their germination in the turbulant decade of the 1960's. While you might imagine from the term "Servant-Leader" that the ideology of this book stems from religious conviction and it certainly does include that, you may be surprised to read i...more
Servant-Leadership is rapidly becoming a popularized term and a popular concept to bandy about in many circles.
This is the book that started that trend.
Published originally in 1977, it contains articles and concepts that found their germination in the turbulant decade of the 1960's. While you might imagine from the term "Servant-Leader" that the ideology of this book stems from religious conviction and it certainly does include that, you may be surprised to read i...more
Greenleaf can't seem to decide whether his recommendations, which are elusive at times and fragmented at best, are grounded in Christian ethic and truth or not. Some of his fundamental statements are certainly honorable but idealist and utopian in a fallen, sinful, and self-centered world. In some sense, it smelled of a culture reforming theology without the explicit biblical anchor. This is a man with a heavy heart and a strong moral compass that struggled to stay on point. The book provides mo...more
Greenleaf sets forth the almost utopic vision of "servant leadership" as a sort of modified "people-first" mentality. The concepts themselves are great. The evidence that he provides is convincing. I also found it interesting that Greenleaf predicted some of the political situations in which we now find ourselves. Why is this interesting? He did it in the 1970s!
I do agree with many of Greenleaf's assertions about servant leadership. I do believe that one of a leader's responsibilities is to trea...more
I do agree with many of Greenleaf's assertions about servant leadership. I do believe that one of a leader's responsibilities is to trea...more
Greenleaf's book was recommended to me by a pastor I greatly respect, but it took me some time before I cracked it open. The book seems dated to me in some ways, with a style of prose a bit more obtuse than I am currently used to (perhaps reading so many books to my toddlers is stumping my own comprehension level) and a hope and optimism for the business was toe that I find difficult to swallow in an era when CEOs are making huge salaries and bonuses but the average middle-class or working -cla...more
The author, regarded as the founder of servant-leadership, proposes that service ought to be the distinguishing characteristic of leadership, while creating stronger corporations and organizations. This book is a collection of essays and talks presented by Greenleaf as he attempts to apply servant-leadership to the fields of education, business, foundations, churches and government. This is an excellent book, made all the better by the outstanding foreword written by Stephen R. Covey.
His theory of servant leadership is still very applicable today. Unfortunately, some of his examples of application of this theory were dated and distracting. I would have enjoyed this read much more had Greenleaf focused on the message slightly more than the esoteric world of non-profit foundations, churches, and education of the 60's and 70's.
READ AUG 2009
Unique take on the nature of institutions in the modern world and the role the trustee has as servant-leader. Best quote, "The servant-leader is servant first...it begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead" (p. 27).
Unique take on the nature of institutions in the modern world and the role the trustee has as servant-leader. Best quote, "The servant-leader is servant first...it begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead" (p. 27).
Two great nuggets here:
1. Servant leadership begins with the desire to serve first, not with the desire for leadership benefits.
2. Servant leaders both serve and are served by their organizations - so no martyr leadership.
1. Servant leadership begins with the desire to serve first, not with the desire for leadership benefits.
2. Servant leaders both serve and are served by their organizations - so no martyr leadership.
Oct 30, 2010
Michael Haupt
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
business-enlightened
The seminal work on this subject. Greenleaf borrowed many of his ideas from "Journey to the East" by Herman Hesse. Required reading if you are a member of a board of directors or have any leadership role in the world of business.
I've read this one at least 3 times; just dipped into it again recently. This is really approachable, wise philosophy. It's applicable to your life, personal, professional and spiritual.
An introduction to servant-leadership - since it's a collection of Greenleaf's essays it gets repetetive, but Greenleaf's message is inspiring and revolutionary nonetheless.
May 19, 2012
Jan
is currently reading it
I'm rereading the book from the viewpoint of organizational theory. What does servant leadership mean to each generation in the workplace--modern to postmodern?
The core idea is solid but it is stretched to excessive page length. This book probably could have been condensed into an oversize edition of the HBR.
What a hard slog and not really all there. Much better books in the genre!
A must read for those interested in servant leadership.
Jun 05, 2009
Diane
added it
EAF 583
This book is a series of writings and lectures about the concept of servant leadership. Some segments were very specific to servant leadership in churches, education, etc. I did not read this whole book, but did read the parts that applied to my development as a manager, which was most of the book. To that end, I was able to understand and embrace the principles of servant leadership and look forward to applying them in my job.
difficult read. probably bcs it is a series of essays written to specific industries/groups.
There were some good thoughts in the book but I didn't relate to all of the material. I did like his focus on society and how that should be a common goal.
Difficult to read and too long. Author made a point and then went on and on about it in a confusing manor until coming back to his original point.
Required reading on my business ethics class...great insights into the nature and role of leadership
I started it, but it is tough to get through. I'll try again another time.
I found this deadly, deadly boring and hard to read.
Introduced me to the idea of leading by serving
Very esoteric. Tough Read.
May 20, 2013
Hank
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Don't assume, because you are intelligent, able, and well-motivated, that you are open to communication, that you know how to listen.”
—
2 people liked it
More quotes…
Feb 23, 2013 08:55pm