Think About How Your Personal Values Correlate With The Prin

Think About How Your Personal Values Correlate With The Principles

Think about how your personal values correlate with the principles of servant leadership. How can you draw on values and servant leadership principles to better establish your followership to better serve those you lead professionally and personally?

Suppose you go to work for an organization that you discover does not align with your personal values. You are in a leadership role and you are not in a position to leave the job. How do you ethically represent the company without compromising your own beliefs? What is the deal breaker for you? How does ethically representing the company demonstrate your ability to be a servant leader?

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Understanding the relationship between personal values and the principles of servant leadership is crucial for effective leadership and followership. Personal values, which are deeply held beliefs about what is right and important, shape how leaders and followers perceive their roles, make decisions, and interact with others. Servant leadership, a philosophy popularized by Robert K. Greenleaf, emphasizes serving others, prioritizing their needs, and fostering an environment of trust, empowerment, and ethical conduct. Drawing on one's personal values to align with servant leadership principles creates a foundation for authentic and ethical leadership, fostering genuine relationships and effective service to both individuals and organizations.

At its core, servant leadership is built on core principles such as empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community (Greenleaf, 1977). These principles require leaders to prioritize the needs of others, act ethically, and serve with integrity. Personal values such as honesty, compassion, respect, and humility resonate strongly with these principles. For instance, a leader who values honesty and transparency will naturally foster trust and open communication, aligning with the servant leader's focus on ethical conduct and genuine care for followers (Liden et al., 2008). Similarly, humility and respect as personal values support the principles of stewardship and empowering others—core elements of servant leadership.

Leaders can draw on their personal values and servant leadership principles to cultivate trust and loyalty among followers, which enhances followership and organizational effectiveness. By demonstrating commitment to service and ethical conduct rooted in personal values, leaders serve as role models, encouraging followers to emulate these qualities. This alignment promotes a culture of integrity, collaboration, and shared purpose, which benefits both the organization and the individuals involved (Eichhorn & Roberts, 2014).

However, ethical dilemmas may arise when a leader finds themselves working for an organization whose values starkly conflict with their personal beliefs. In such situations, ethical leadership necessitates finding ways to represent the organization authentically without compromising one's integrity. One approach involves focusing on aspects of the organization that align with core values or emphasizing the organization’s positive impact, while advocating for ethical practices and integrity internally. Leaders can also foster transparency and open communication, encouraging organizational change from within. An essential element is setting boundaries—serving the organization while maintaining personal moral standards—and acting as an ethical voice within the organization.

The concept of deal breakers is highly individual and depends on the severity of value conflicts. For some, unethical practices such as corruption, discrimination, or exploitation become non-negotiable, leading to a decision to dissociate from such behavior or seek change from within. For others, minor misalignments may be manageable through adaptation or strategic influence. Maintaining ethical integrity in these circumstances reflects key traits of a servant leader—self-awareness, empathy, and a commitment to the common good. Ethically representing the organization while upholding personal standards not only demonstrates integrity but also exemplifies servant leadership by prioritizing the well-being of others, fostering trust, and promoting positive organizational culture (Sendjaya & Sarros, 2002).

In summary, aligning personal values with servant leadership principles creates a meaningful pathway to ethical and effective leadership. Even when facing value conflicts within an organization, leaders can serve as ethical stewards by focusing on positive contributions, advocating for integrity, and modeling servant leadership qualities. This approach enhances their capacity to serve faithfully while navigating complex organizational environments, ultimately promoting a leadership style rooted in authenticity, integrity, and service to others.

References

• Greenleaf, R. K. (1977). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Paulist Press.
• Eichhorn, D., & Roberts, S. (2014). Social justice, servant leadership, and organizational ethics: A review. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 27(1), 121-134.
• Liden, R. C., Wayne, S. J., Zhao, H., & Henderson, D. (2008). Servant leadership: Development of a multidimensional measure and multi-level assessment. The Leadership Quarterly, 19(2), 161-177.
• Sendjaya, S., & Sarros, J. C. (2002). Servant leadership: Its origin, development, and application in organizations. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 9(2), 57-64.