The Servant-Leader Within: A Transformative Path

by Robert K. Greenleaf

In this inspirational and practical book are gathered some of the classic works of visionary management consultant and educator Robert K. Greenleaf. This volume includes his definitive work on developing servant-leadership in a university, Teacher as Servant. Along with that parable are two of his essays, "Life's Choices and Markers," and the original version of "The Servant as Leader," written for a student audience. Each provides a different but complementary perspective on servant-leadership and its relationship to the art of teaching and the act of learning. For this edition, the editors have added commentary to make the parable and essays even more useful to those interested in the teaching and practice of servant-leadership. ―ideal text to use in teaching servant-leadership to anyone with ties to the academic world ―appropriate as well for teaching in the business world †

Genres: Leadership, Business, Management

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2003

Reviews

[Lorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

From my book, Dynamic Markets Leadership, all rights reserved:
Greenleaf described some complex factors, and they go beyond most attempts to apply his ideas in terms of partial versions like “management by consensus,” “empowerment,” “change management,” “sensitivity training,” and other attempts to play nice. It is not tender-minded indecisiveness that describes the new leader; rather, it is tough-mindedness, visionary insight, mutual respect, and a deep commitment to serving the common good instead of self interest. This combination of toughness or fierceness and dedication to developing others are the same complementarities that Collins found in what he called Level 5 leadership as going beyond the “super hero” CEO who can turn around a company but does not leave it the foundation for sustained growth. Greenleaf estimated that perhaps 20% of an educated population in the university would have an inherent interest in developing as servant-leaders. So Greenleaf and Collins both view this higher level as something a person brings to the job rather than something one learns on the job. I have a different position. I agree that about 20% are internally inclined to pursue change, growth, new experiences, and higher levels of development. I also see the “middle” 50% to 60% as being very capable of stepping up and performing in similar capacities and roles under the right conditions. One of the main responsibilities of the transformational leader is first self-transformation beyond egoism and then organizing the company, the context, the system, and the culture to support and enrich the capabilities of the mid-range of abilities in the general population. This is not training or even learning of new things. This means developing to a level that before was not possible.

[Ngiamsw]

Foresight - the Central Ethic of Leadership
Awareness - opening wide the doors of perception so as to take in more of what is available of sensory experience and other signals from the env than pp usually take in.

[Alex Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic "down-to-earth" book representing my first read of 2022. I was first introduced to the concept of servant leadership in 2015 as part of an intense leadership development program via the Multicultural Leadership Institute. I then had the privilege and responsibility to practice these skills over the course of the next 7 years as I led multiple operational teams. In short, I believe the world would be a better place if more servant leaders were raised up.

One of the key parts of the book reads (page 231):

Power is benign when, in the course of using, both the user and the subject grow as persons, when they become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants--as a result of power's being used. Power is a malignant force when people are coerced by it. No one grows when coerced. The best that can be hoped for is that they will conform--not a very happy state.

[Al Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

At Trinity Christian Center I have attempted to introduce Robert Greenleaf's theory of Servant-Leadership as the basis for our Team-Leadership concept at Trinity Christian Center. This is a form of process Leadership that actually is focused on a leader desiring the success of others more than their own success. If this theory is the foundation of â Why we do what we do?It is then important for us to use this as a grid of discerning what can apply into our context from the materials that we read to the practices that we would desire to implement. For review concerning this theory - Frick and Spears describe Greenleaf in the Introduction to On Becoming a Servant Leader (Greenleaf, 1996), Robert Greenleaf was an introvert who spent his life as a public teacher, cared deeply about our wider society and global culture, and believed that authentic change happened only when it began in the inner solitude of single individuals. I propose this inner solitude of individuals is a critical component of servant leadership and it will be reflected by a higher proportion of individuals who express a preference for Introversion over Extroversion on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator instrument or even the Yellow Quadrant and Red Quadrant in the Birkman's and have been identified as servant leaders by their followers. This is an excellent book based on earlier essays that Robert Greenleaf presents that sets the foundation for his servant leader theory of leadership. This book contains his original essay written in 1970, "The Servant as a Leader" as well as his brilliant parable "Teacher as a Servant."

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original unedited 1970 version of Greenleaf's essay plus his teacher as servant essay - quick read, inspiring.

[Anne]

I only read the original essay on Servant Leadership. Didn't have any interest in the parable of it.

[Prokofev Viktor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is very useful exciting books filling of different phycological facts.