Question

Van Diedrendonck notes on empowering and developing people through servant leadership with 5 characteristics. These characteristics are empowering and developing people, humility, authenticity, interpersonal acceptance, providing direction, and stewardship. please explain these below?

Answer 1

Empowering and developing people - The strengths, talents of the employees are acknowledged and they are given responsibility and made accountable for their actions. They are encouraged and treated as individuals and not as workers.

Humility- The servant leader should have a humble attitude and be aware that his knowledge is limited and that his subordinates may have more knowledge and experience than him. This would create an environment, fostering knowledge.

Authenticity - The servant leader should act with integrity, stay true to his words and morals and be consistent in his actions. He should also encourage his employees to act with integrity.

Interpersonal acceptance - The servant leader should demonstrate qualities such as understanding, empathy, appreciation and forgiveness. This makes the environment more humane.

Providing direction - The servant leader should make the employees aware of what is needed of them, as per their abilities and organizational needs.

Stewardship- The servant leader should not be self-focussed, instead focus on the responsibility and set a good role-model for others to follow.