Servant Leadership: Its Origin, Development, and Application in Organizations
Abstract
This paper examines the philosophical foundation of servant leadership by extracting several value-laden principles drawn from Greenleafs and Jesus Christ's delineation of the concept. The primary intent and self-concept of servant leaders are singled out as the distinctive features of servant leadership. While empirical research studies are critically needed to develop the concepts underlying the servant leadership movement into sound theory, an accurate understanding of the conceptual roots of servant leadership is essential in the process. The current developmental stage of the servant leadership movement is explored in order to provide some useful signposts for future research directions.
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The servant leader is distinguished from other leaders primarily by the motivation to serve his/her followers, which relies on a feeling for people and a moral calling to help.
“The servant leader is distinguished from other leaders primarily by the motivation to serve his / her followers (Sendjaya & Sarros, 2002), which relies on a feeling for people and a moral calling to help (Keith, 2008).”
From Servant Leadership and Employee Engagement: A Qualitative Study (2022) · cites this paper as Sendjaya & Sarros, 2002
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- Authors
- Sendjaya, S., & Sarros, J. C.
- Affiliations
- Monash University (AU)
- ORCID
- Sendjaya, Sen
- Venue
- Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2002-09
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 57-64
- ISSN
- 1548-0518 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-7089
- OpenAlex
- W2097313478
- Cited by
- 653
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 18.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Leadership and Management in Organizations
- Social Sciences › Demography › Workplace Spirituality and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Contemporary Christian Leadership and Education
- Keywords
- servant leadership, Greenleaf, Jesus Christ, philosophical foundations, organizational leadership
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