Question

Defend or refute: Servant leadership should be conceptualized as a behavior rather than a trait.

Answer 1

The servant leadership concept says that the leader is a servant first. This concept is in contrast to the traditional leadership concept in which the leader is a leader first. The servant leader prioritises the growth of his people rather than display and exercise of his power. He acknowledges the perspectives of other people and provides them support to work towards their personal goals. The servant leader involve the people in decision making and build a sense of community in the team. A servant leader requires characteristics such as empathy listening foresight persuasion and stewardship. Such characteristics cannot come by behaviour but are inbuilt traits of people. Hence I do not agree with the statement that servant leadership is a behaviour rather than a trait.