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International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Abstract

Downsizing and devaluation of the human asset are traditional responses to difficult economic times. Traditional approaches that support this method, command and control or authoritarian leadership models, do not deliver the benefits promised as a result of downsizing. Of great significance in the current context of complexity and dissonance, servant-leadership is a valid alternative and companies that are supportive of Robert Greenleaf's characteristics of servant-leadership have demonstrated positive results in the marketplace. In this time of economic turmoil, the world cries out for servantleadership. The sad truth is that "many companies treat their people as disposable. At the first sign of business difficulty, employees-who are routinely referred to as "our greatest asset"-become expendable (Sirota, Mischkind, & Meltzer, p. I). Looking at an organization as a tree, we see that it needs leaves (customers) to carry out photosynthesis. It needs a strong trunk (physical assets) to protect and support it. Most importantly, it needs a solid root structure (the organization's people) as a base so that it may thrive. Servant-leadership is focused on an organization's root structure in the knowledge that trunks can be repaired and leaves may grow back, but without a solid root structure, a tree will certainly perish.

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