SERVANT LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

Phuoc D. Nguyen

Some servant leadership qualities are innate and play an important role in servant leadership practice, others can be honed by experience and practice. Lubin (2001) proposed, “It is clear that leaders are not born knowing servant leadership characteristics. These characteristics can be learned and practiced, like any discipline, when a person has incorporated these behaviors into his or her habits and character” (p. 97). There are five leadership qualities. First, a leader has a positive energy source. Second, the ability to inspire others. Third, the passion. Fourth, assertiveness. Finally, the ability to lead effectively. Of these five qualities of leadership a positive source of energy, the ability to inspire others, and a passion almost belonging to the innate, these are great qualities to replicate that many people are fortunate to have. In contrast, assertiveness, the ability to lead effectively, and other servant leadership qualities are not innate qualities. Claar, Jackson, and TenHaken (2014) stated, “We see great hope in the idea of the servant leader who is formed by past experiences, the mentors he or she seeks and follows, and the daily practice of the habits of a true servant leader” (p. 51). New leaders rarely own these qualities, they need to be trained by experienced servant leaders and servant leadership professors. However, the best instructor in this area is the real challenges and experiences. Self-confidence is an important factor that helps a servant leader to be assertive and lead a team/organization effectively. They can only decide to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ firmly when they have experienced many similar difficult situations and have seen the effect of each of their decisions.

Ingram (2016, p. 24) cited “several leadership concepts assume that leaders are made, not born, but he pointed out that this could be too narrow a view. Maintaining such a stance does not consider the growth process of the leader” (as cited in Rost, 1991). Therefore, can servant leaders be developed, or are leaders born with innate characteristics? Perhaps not surprisingly, the answer is both. Effective servant leadership needs to be trained and practiced in servant leadership. However, being trained and practicing has not yet become a good leader, it depends on innate servant leadership qualities.