International Journal of Servant-Leadership
Abstract
Trust, respect, love, the notion of liability for each other, and the knowledge of how to live in community while also enhancing the economic value and cultural values of institutions are opportunities to increase our business competitiveness and success. -Robert K. Greenleaf, The Servant as Leader In his essay, The Servant as Leader, Greenleaf (1991/1970) called for recapturing our knowledge of what it means to live in community. Heidentified the need to understand how to create community and carry the values of trust, respect, love, and liability into our businesses, churches, governments, and schools (Greenleaf, 1991/1970, p. 29). In today's competitive, fast-paced global economy, it is every management team's dream to achieve employee productivity, flexibility, and loyalty. However, we are experiencing a time in which corporations are not only entering bankruptcy proceedings but are also downsizing and outsourcing as well as asking remaining employees to assume more responsibility for the cost burdens of health care and retirement benefits. In the midst of this volatility, successful corporations have an increased requirement for employees who demonstrate creativity, responsibility, and emotional intelligence in their work lives. If corporations wish to increase their competitiveness in the global economy, they require employees who are committed to accomplishing the corporation's mission, purpose, and goals. At the same time, employees want more meaning and fulfillment from the work they do. This pivotal interaction requires leaders who demonstrate concern for the whole person-the mind; the heart, and the spirit. Does successful business leadership require that the organization integrate its values with the values of its employees? Is it important to business success for employees to know they are cherished not just for what they contribute to the bottom line? Does the creation of community contribute to business success? How do business leaders and leadership practitioners incorporate this call for community into day to day business operations? Are the values of a work community similar to the values described by Greenleaf? Some leadership literature (Drucker, 1989; Fairholm, 1998; Handy, 1994; Lewin & Birute, 2000; Marcie, 1997; Pinc hot & Pinchot, 1994) has focused on the importance of creating community and personal wholeness if businesses want to make a difference in a complex, changing, and global business environment.
Recommended Citation
Geaney, Martha M.
(2010)
"Servant-Leadership: Creating Community and Personal Wholeness, the Keys to Competitive Business Success,"
International Journal of Servant-Leadership: Vol. 6, Article 9.
DOI: 10.33972/ijsl.192
Available at:
https://repository.gonzaga.edu/ijsl/vol6/iss1/9
Copyright Information
Copyright 2010 The Author(s). All rights reserved