Servant Leadership

Question 1

Volunteering for Purple Stride Delaware provided me with insights of how one can leads by serving others. As a volunteer in the initiative, the aspect of leadership was instilled to me through the skill of persuasion and as well as getting people to grasp and work with my vision. By volunteering at the initiative that was aimed at raising money for the fight against pancreatic cancer, I felt that I was indirectly preparing myself for senior position. The decision-making responsibilities and tasks that I was charged with gave me a supervisory role, which played a part in molding my leadership skills. Additionally the challenges of working without compensation and authority while striving to be productive as well as working towards the shared goals, honed my skills by enabling me to be an adept leader and a capable manager in tackling management issues (The Purple Stride, 2016).

The volunteering position encompassed forming a positive brand image as well as attaining trust by participants who would financially contribute to the cause as well as participate in a walks. Convincing and appealing to the participants required persuasion tactics, which is a skill critical for leaders wishing to commit their followers to an initiative. In addition, since I was required to communicate a positive brand image, my character and conduct was tuned to that of a public figure that commands a followership. Similarly, due to the circumstance that we were working with strained resources, I was required to engage in prudent spending such as prioritizing projects depending on needs. The situation enhanced my decision-making skills through the classification of needs according to urgency. Voluntary work makes people more open minded and mindful of other people. The help offered during this time makes the participants more gratified by their actions. It is therapeutic to help when one has the ability.

Question 2

This is example is good because the acts of service are reciprocated in a way that benefits the society. The one decision of the marine commander to mobilize troops to donate blood to a small child rewarded the forces with a bigger recovery center. It is through servant leadership that all this is possible. People find it easier to do bigger things in appreciation for a seemingly small deed at a crucial time. The marine commander was a man of integrity and so was the father of the small child whose life was saved. The two men thorough their acceptance to serve others and dedication to the course have changed the lives of soldiers throughout the country. The followership can only be generated once the leader shows that it is possible to maintain status and still be humble. This example clearly shows what it means to answer to the call to service.

This example embraces both Christianity and the Greenleaf’s principles because it involves healing, listening and empathy for the soldiers and the small child. The example is also related to the Bible’s example of servant leadership because it is in the scriptures that one should help without expecting anything in return, which is exactly what the marine commander did. The father of the small child felt indebted to the Marines so much that he sought a way of giving back to them. This train of thought is what led to the eventuality the recovery centers being established all over the country. The help offered to the marines makes it easier for them to adjust to life after their missions (Schmitt).

References

Schmitt, J. (n.d.). Servant Leadership Ted Talk [Recorded by J. Schmitt].

The Purple Stride. (2016). Retrieved from The Purple Stride Wage Hope De Pancreatic Cancer Walk: http://support.pancan.org/site/TR/PurpleStride/PurpleStride?fr_id=1110&pg=entry