Servant Leadership Denotes a Leadership Style

Servant Leadership Denotes a Leadership Style
Most importantly, servant leadership denotes a leadership style whereby a leader prioritizes the followers through demonstrating empathy, nurturing, and, most importantly, effectiveness. Various religious perspectives, such as Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, etc., demonstrate servant leadership. Similarly, different cultural contexts also exhibit this leadership form. The paper will examine the Indian culture and Islam religious viewpoint regarding servant leadership.
How the Principles of Servant Leadership are Evident
Diverse principles also guide servant leadership depending on the cultural or religious context involved. From the Indian servant leadership perspective, six main leadership behavior dimensions form the basis for guiding principles that Indian leaders must observe. These are authentic self, responsible morality, transcendental spirituality, covenantal relationship, acting as a servant, and voluntary subordination. Firstly, servant leaders should illustrate the capacity to lead authentically, as shown in their persistent humility, integrity, security, and accountability traits. Gandhi was among the leaders that depicted or whose leadership was guided by their authentic selves. Secondly, reasonable morality requires servant leaders to show advanced moral values that are ethically justified. They must lead Indians to nonviolent revolutions, including forgiveness. Additionally, implementing moral reasoning is also a desirable action. Thirdly, the leadership must also demonstrate transcendental spirituality, which comprises a leader’s behaviors that manifest the inner belief that something or a person beyond self exists and makes life comprehensive and meaningful (Mishra & Mahapatra, 2019). Fourthly, the servants must show the covenantal relationship in their leadership, whereby the leaders should create a profound connection with the followers through embracing equality, acceptance, and collaboration. Fifthly, servant leadership in the Indian culture expects leaders to act as true servants. Specifically, this principle dictates that the quality of being a servant obliges leaders to prioritize their followers more than themselves. Lastly, voluntary subordination is also among the guiding principles that expect leaders to be representative of service rather than power to humanity.
From the Islam religion perspective, the major guiding principle for servant leadership is based on trust, popularly described by members as Amanah. The leader in charge is entrusted by the followers to lead the group and make great decisions. The person must be accountable to the followers and, most importantly, God. To meet the trust, as a principle, human beings received the gift to learn from God, from the creation era whereby God created Adam (the first human created on the universe) as a vicegerent on the planet. The Islam religion context expects the trust concept in leadership at all leadership levels within the Islamic viewpoint (Jabarkhail, 2020). For example, the ruler has authority over individuals; he guides and is accountable for them. A man is always his family’s leader and is expected to lead the family members righteously. Also, a servant who...