Robert K. Greenleaf: Servant Leadership

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According to Robert K. Greenleaf, a servant-leader “begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first” (Greenleaf 15). A servant first shows that one is going to do whatever it takes to be great by listening and learning. The key elements in Robert K. Greenleaf’s definition when addressing others are as follows: “The servant always accepts and empathizes, never rejects. The servant as leader always empathizes, always accepts the person but sometimes refuses to accept some of the person’s effort or performance as good enough” (Greenleaf 21). This shows that everyone starts somewhere in order to achieve greatness. The servant-leader knows what it was like to start at the bottom and move his or her way up in the world. Most …show more content…
To me, this quote means that being a servant is not considered a bad thing. “But if one is servant, either leader or follower, one is always searching, listening, expecting that a better wheel for these times is in the making” (Greenleaf 11). I can relate to this quote because my dad always tells me to not talk much and just listen and learn. He wants me to gain knowledge from others who have had more life experiences than me. Bernie Sanders is a perfect example of being a servant-leader. Sanders always puts the people first. He does everything he can to make gaining knowledge more affordable for people around America. Sanders also believes that hard working Americans should not be living in poverty. He is trying to help Americans all of the world have a better life for themselves. When people are given these opportunity to do great things, they need to become motivated to achieve great …show more content…
However, we learn and look up to others to help us on our journeys: “It is so stated that it excites the imagination and challenges people to work for something they do not yet know how to do, something they can be proud of as they move towards it” (Greenleaf 17). Something that always challenged me was writing. Instead of stressing out and always worrying, I try to learn from others and my own mistakes. I often utilize the writing center to help me improve my writing skills. It is important for me to improve my writing skills, as my ultimate goal is to be a lawyer. Robert K. Greenleaf did change my ideas about leadership and serving. He made me realize not to hold back when learning and gaining experience from others. As I am serving others, my life will also be impacted by learning from others. “The servant, by definition, is fully human. The servant-leader is functionally superior because he is closer to the ground—he hears things, sees things, knows things, and his intuitive insight is exceptional” (Greenleaf 43). This is how I am. I do not have much experience in the world, but hopefully I will be able
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