Based on the results of the leadership assessment taken during this course, I would be characterized as TransformationalServant Leader. Per the leadership assessment, the characteristics of a transformative leader are charismatic, inspirational, a role model, and an enabler. The leadership styles presentation viewed during the course describes a transformative leader as one who strives to develop shared visions. A transformative leader inspires others toward change and partners with others to obtain commitment. They are supportive of human needs, and builds team structure.
The presentation further states that a transformative leader coordinates institutional and individual aims, while promoting clarity of shifting role responsibilities, and links creativity to en enhanced productivity. Lastly a transformative leader works cooperatively with others toward achieving goals that alter circumstances. Per Kendrick (2011) when expertly crafted and practiced, transformational leadership focuses on the followers, motivates them to achieve a higher performance level and helps develop the leader within each individual.
Per Mathew and Gupta (2015) transformational leaders use intellectual stimulation to challenge their followers’ customary ways of doing things and encourage innovative ways of working and solving problems. Per Mathew and Gupta (2015) in quoting Bass and Avolio they suggested that transformational leaders attained greater levels of success in the workplace, tended to be promoted more often, produced better financial results, and were rated to be more effective by their employees than transactional leaders.
Furthermore, according to Mathew and Gupta (2015) transformational leaders were more likely to stimulate and inspire followers to achieve extraordinary outcomes and also develop their own leadership capacity. Per Greenleaf (1970) a Servant leader gives authority to their followers, helps followers in achieving their goals, leaves the follower feeling empowered. Per the leadership assessment the Servant leader tends to be a nurturer, a servant, emphatic, a listener, and moral.
Servant leadership is growing in popularity as a management philosophy in which the manager leads by inspiring others to achieve superior organizational results according to the article “What is servant leadership? “. Per the author (2014) servant leadership is characterized by a “bottomup culture” in which front-line staff have a say in how to achieve measurable goals of the organization by helping to establish the organizations values and behavioral standards.
The article listed the ten principles of servant leadership as listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, and commitment to growth of people and community. The combination of the two provides for quite an effective and efficient leader, they are almost one in the same with the motivation being to bring out the best in your followers. Ensuring that leaders and followers share the same vision in achieving organizational goals and objectives, while not negating their own goals and needs but aligning them to that of the organization.
In reviewing my strengths and weakness as a combined transformational-servant leader, I can say that I can be over empathic and not always very skilled at persuading others to my causes especially if I myself have a hard time, believing what | am saying or being told to say. However, as I know we all still grow and develop I am constantly honing my ability to sell without needing to deceive like car salesman but as an advocate for the person I am helping. I have been told in the past that I am a good leader, and have had many who more than willing to follow my lead.
I always fear that I may lead them astray somehow so I am always careful of the decisions and steps | take to accomplish goals. One of my greatest strengths is the ability to inspire others to want to do more with their lives in order to improve their quality of life and well-being. For example, a former employee/co-worker of mine decided to pursue a Master’s degree after discovering I was doing the same and saw my ability to overcome any challenges that may have presented themselves. Another strength is the ability to work cooperatively with others to achieve goals to alter circumstances.
In addition, I am able to stimulate and inspire followers to achieve extraordinary outcomes and also develop their own leadership capacity. As I progress through my academic career and personal life, the ability to be an effective leader will be constantly shaped and molded to enhance my leadership profile. Just an in graduate course we must provide evaluate the validity of our resources, the same must be done in leadership to make sure you are not undermining organizational goals, or the intelligence of those who choose to follow you.
The public service industry, is simply that a service to the public or people, being an effective leader is necessary to be able to affect change in the lives of others, and their willingness to follow you in doing so. Effective leadership extends beyond your employees to your clients and the community at large. According to the National Organization of Human Service, human service professionals and those who educate them promote and encourage the unique values and characteristics of human services.
In addition human service professionals uphold the integrity and ethics of the profession, promote client and community well-being, and enhance their own professional growth. Furthermore, according to the National Organization of Human Service, the fundamental values of the human services profession include respecting the dignity and welfare of all people; promoting self-determination; honoring cultural diversity; advocating for social justice; and acting with integrity, honesty, genuineness and objectivity. No matter your leadership profile, you are responsible for acting, and making decision in the most ethical manner possible.
Mistakes happen but they should not happen as a result of an unethical decision made by a public service leader. Diversity and its inclusion in the public service field, more specifically in human service are a relationship that can never be separated, and has an ever changing dynamic. According to the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS), there are many ethical standards that address diversity in service to our clients. The NOHS states that human service professionals ensure that their values or biases are not imposed upon their clients to not hinder the diverse background that the clients we serve come from.
Furthermore, NOHS states that human service professionals are to provide services without discrimination or preference in regards to age, ethnicity, culture, race, ability, gender, language preference, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, nationality, or other historically oppressed groups. Another ethical standard stated by the NOHS is that human service professionals expected to be knowledgeable about their cultures and communities within which they practice and are aware of multiculturalism in society and its impact on the community as well as individuals within the community.
Human service professional must respect the cultures and beliefs of the individual and groups that they serve and are aware of social and political issues that differentially affect clients from diverse backgrounds. Lastly the NOHS states that human service professionals advocate for social justice and seek to eliminate oppression as well as raise awareness of underserved population in their communities and within the legislative system.
A transformation-servant leader is more apt to deal with diversity and the changes that it brings. Furthermore, a transformational-servant leader is more apt to deal with a diverse, multicultural landscape and is more willing to adapt. As stated earlier, a transformative leader inspires others toward change and partners with others to obtain commitment while at the same time being a servant leader being a nurturer, a servant, emphatic, a listener, and moral.
As a transformational-servant leader I must not only be charismatic, inspirational, a role model, and an enabler, but also be willing to give authority to my followers, help them in achieving their goals, and leave them feeling empowered. As progress through my academic career and personal life the experiences I gain in and outside of my coursework will only serve to enhance my abilities and leadership profile. From this course, I have gained much perspective and gleaned insight from my classmates and especially my professor. This course was a great starting point for my path towards being a leader in public service.
