“Am I my brother’s keeper?”:

Servant Leadership through community building

Ian Knott-Craig

Department of Education, Rhodes University (SOUTH AFRICA)

EMASA 2011 – CAPE TOWN

Overview

• Literature Overview• Context• Findings• Sustainability• Conclusion

“People are the heart and spirit of all that counts.(Max DePree)

“Leadership is a process of influence. Anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behaviour or

development of people towards accomplishing a goal you are taking the role of leadership.”

(Ken Blanchard)

“Leadership is about people and the intimate, intricate relationships between them.”

(Chuck Ferguson)

“No one is a leader without someone to follow.”(Ken Blanchard)

BOSS FROM HELL

Overworked

Paradigm Shift

Greenleaf

Servant Leadership• “One who wants to serve first”;

• “It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first”…;

• …“then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead”;

• “The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant - first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served”. (Greenleaf, 1970)

Context of the study

• Alternative leadership methods

• Collaborative community

• Social formation

• Preparation of students

Methodology

• Transformative Paradigm– Action Research

• Qualitative in nature

• Multi-method approach– Interviews– Report Documents– Observation– Focus Groups

Findings

Development of Moral Dialogue

• Reflection of current approach• Willingness to challenge• Exercise of moral power• Stronger relationships• Responsible approach

Findings

Community Building

• Empowerment to build• Collective development of a

vision and values• Created a caring and supportive

environment• Development of self-worth

Findings

Emergence of Servant Leadership

• Awareness of responsibility• Collective involvement• Moral responsibility• Social obligation

Implementation of Model

College Housemaster

Head of HouseDeputy Head of House

FORU

M

Grade 12Monitors/Mentors

Grade 11Mentors

Grade 10

Grade 9

Grade 8

Mentorin

g

Workgroups/PO

DS

Workgroups/PO

DS

Workgroups/PO

DS

Workgroups/PO

DS

Sustainability“Wheel of change”

• Challenge mindsets• Recognise new ideas• Develop new goals• Good communication• Everyone is valued

“The fruit of great servant leadership is realised when a leader seeks to send the next generation of leaders to meet the challenges of their season

with all the wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual resources he or she

can provide.”(Ken Blanchard, 2005)

Conclusion

Are there any questions?

Thank you for your attention!