Replies: Business Leadership
Discussion: DJ
Discussion Thread: Biblical Leadership
What have you learned through the rough seasons/failures of life?
The rough seasons/failures of life have taught me the meaning of conviction, joy, and empathy to my fellow neighbor, both believer and non-believer. Whether it be the passing of relatives, financial distress, or relationship headaches, the perseverance would not be possible without the foundational covenant relationship that Christians have with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The rough seasons/failures of life I have learned create some of the greatest opportunities to share the gospel as we are all loved and meant to be saved if we would simply accept and believe in Christ, all will be well. As I continue to overcome the rough seasons/failures in life, I still thank God for putting me through these situations as it only creates a more empowered servant leader.
What is the difference between a man-centered approach to servant leadership and a God-centered one?
The servant leadership approach leadership management style for an organization can be broken into either a man-centered approach or a God-centered approach with similarities but sustaining a major key difference where a God-centered one servant leadership approach remains Christ-centered which embraces the covenantal relationship Christians have with God versus simply employee empowerment. A God-centered approach displays a style of service to employees that shows the meaningfulness of each induvial employee and the contributions each person has made within the organization and stemming from scripture. An example of a God-centered approach exemplified by instruction found in scripture includes what Christ said in Mathew 22:37-39 which reads “37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (ESV., 2022). A God-centered approach also utilizes the trait of healing, which takes place as a manager recognizes when an employee empty and is needed to be filled with wholeheartedness and support (Blanchard & Broadwell., 2018). While man-centered servant leadership can still foster positive benefits to the company utilizing it to plant seeds serving other people, the God-centered leadership approach is foremost about following Christ and by doing so will result in the ultimate service to your neighbor and employees.
What are some of the challenges of practically practicing servant leadership?
The leadership style selected by the decisionmakers of a company will not go without facing its adversities, including that of the challenges faced when seeking to practice and implement servant leadership within an organization. A challenge faced when practically practicing servant leadership within a company includes the concern of organizational performance, as well as company direction and production concerns as time is scarce (Crowther., 2018). This concern furthers by struggling with the managerial discernment of choosing what and how to manage the employees of the organization without distorting the efficiency and effectiveness of the business and its performance in the marketplace. The practicality of servant leadership is true and will create a flourishing environment for the organization that chooses to implement a servant leadership style that embraces employee empowerment and progression across the firm.
How does a biblical, covenantal perspective inform our understanding of servant leadership?
A biblical, covenantal perspective aids researchers in the understanding of servant leadership and its application by management within an organizational business setting. A biblical, covenantal perspective informs the understanding of servant leadership through foundationally deriving its service leadership pillars from the covenant that God has with his people on earth which includes a daily, spiritually active relationship. This perspective informs the understanding of servant leadership through the relationship aspects Christians have with God that includes collaborative accountability, open-communication, as well as employee empowerment just as Christ empowers his people. As the covenant made through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross provided his people the ultimate service, the application in the business setting follows in the same footsteps that follows as loving, caring, and serving your neighbor (or clients/consumers) as you would want to be treated.
References
Blanchard, K. & Broadwell, R. (Eds.). (2018). Servant leadership in action: How you can
achieve great relationships and results. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. ISBN: 9781523093960.
Crowther, S. (2018). Biblical servant leadership: An exploration of Leadership for the
Contemporary Context (Christian Faith Perspectives in Leadership and Business). Palgrave McMillian. ISBN: 9783319895680.
English Standard Version Bible. (2022). https://esv.org
Discussion 2: NM
Biblical Leadership Discussion
Humility is Valuable in All Seasons
Humility is a valuable cornerstone in the ebbs and flows of life, as it is an important aspect of servitude and self-awareness for leaders (Crowther, 2018). It is effortless for individuals to relish in success, even to the point of arrogance. Failures however, especially after coming from a position of accomplishment, or perhaps, encountering a series of rough circumstances can remind a person quickly of their mortality and need for external support. Tangible signs of success like wealth or titles are finite, but humbleness can be exercised in both good and less favorable seasons infinitely. Humbleness keeps a person grounded, connected, resilient, and in faith. This lesson can also been seen biblically, in the instances of Job (King James Bible, 2022).
Servant Leadership, Man-Centered versus Biblical Philosophies
Servant leadership is altruistic in nature and does align with Christian values of servitude, however, where the biblical variant branches off is in its God-centered values at its core. Biblically, when one is serving the Lord, in turn, one is loving their neighbor by following God’s will (Babyak, 2018). Contemporary servant leadership from the man-centered perspective places the interests of others first such as the community, customers, or followers above those deemed as leaders. Although the man-centered theory is still virtuous in nature, the greater good of humanity is the focus (Crowther, 2018). From a biblical perspective, it is important that leaders root their vision in God’s purpose and authority (Babyak, 2018).
Challenges of Practicing Servant Leadership
Liao et al. (2021) denoted that Servant leadership research oftentimes focuses on the positive outcomes of followers and organizations, while foregoing the dynamics of the effects on servant leader behaviors. In the study conducted, the researchers found that leaders can become depleted from exercising these actions, as daily leader performance are fluid. For example, agreeableness, communication, and mindfulness may vary. In all, it is shown that higher levels of experience, self-efficacy, moral self-concept are crucial to avoiding servant leader burnout. To decrease the likelihood of burnout for leaders, followers can be reminded to express gratitude, leaders can take breaks, and lastly, training can be implemented to support areas where certain skills are underdeveloped (Liao et al, 2021).
The Biblical Covenant and Servant Leadership
The covenant represents the mutual agreement that leaders and followers have to uphold within in their respectful positions. Leaders are trusted in their duties to provide purpose, direction, and implement operations toward visions that better the larger community (Blanchard and Broadwell, 2018). Followers also have a commitment to subscribe to the shared values placed, responsibilities, and regulatory guidelines enacted to make to organization effectively run. In Christianity, there is submission to God’s will in each role. Ultimately, God is the one that everyone is following (Babyak, 2018).
References
Babyak, A. (2018). Toward a Theory of Biblical Leadership. Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, 21(1), 60-66. https://cbfa-jbib.org/index.php/jbib/article/view/493/501
Blanchard, K. & Broadwell, R. (Eds.). (2018). Servant leadership in action: How you can achieve great relationships and results. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. ISBN: 9781523093960.
Crowther, S. (2018). Biblical servant leadership: An exploration of Leadership for the Contemporary Context: Christian Faith Perspectives in Leadership and Business. Palgrave McMillian. ISBN: 9783319895680.
King James Bible. (2022). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769)
Liao, C., Lee, H. W., Johnson, R. E., & Lin, S. (. (2021). Serving you depletes me? A leader-centric examination of servant leadership behaviors. Journal of Management, 47(5), 1185-1218. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206320906883
