Proposal Servant Leadership Assignment | Homework Help Websites

Please add the following to attached proposal on servant leadership

Literature Review    – 3 pages

Methodology Research- 2 pages

Design and Procedures – 2 pages

Research Proposal

Student’s Name

Institution

Date

Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE: NATURE OF THE RESEARCH…………………………….3

Introduction………………………………………………………………………3

Problem Background…………………………………………………….………..3

Statement of the Problem………………………………………………………….5

Purpose of the Study………………………………………………………………6

Research Questions……………………………………………………………….10

Limitations and Delimitations            ………………………………………….…………10

Definitions……………………………………………………………….………..12

Importance of the Study………………………………………………….……….12

Personal Connections to the Study……………………………………….……….13

Summary………………………………………………………………….………..14

References…………………………………………………………………………15

CHAPTER ONE: NATURE OF THE RESEARCH

The types of research that will be conducted in this case will qualitative research. However, there will be a difference between this research and other researches. The reason behind it is because this research does not involve the collection of new data, but it will depend on data that has already been collected. In many fields and topics of research, some researchers have already collected data and analyzed it, and their conclusions serve as a center for reference to other researches that focus on issues that are similar. However, the authenticity of the materials that will be used will not be compromised, and this is for the sake of making sure that the research passes the credibility test when it is complete.

Introduction

Leadership is a concept that is evident in every field. However, there are different types of leadership. The type of leadership is dictated by the type of results that the leaders are interested in attaining. At the same time, the type of a leadership style can be dictated by the type of the people who a leader is planning to lead or manage. Servant leadership is one of the leadership styles that have been named as the best in both organizational setups as well as political setup. The leaders who practice this type of leadership have a sole intention, and that is to serve the people who they lead. The research will be looking at some of the characteristics of servant leadership. The main aim is to deeply understand the theory of servant leadership by collecting materials which have focused on the same topic.

Problem Background

Servant leadership is a type of leadership that is unique and exceptional, and this is due to the fact that the leaders who practice it are to some extent selfless. A selfless leader does not look at his or her class, but he or she goes ahead to serve with the main aim of making sure that the people that he or she is leading have attained the desired goals (Chen, Zhu, & Zhou, 2015). Different characteristics are present in servant leaders, and most of the servant leaders are different from other leaders. One of the characteristics is selflessness. In leadership, there is one aspect that is present in many leaders. The aspect is known as superiority. Most of the leaders want to feel superior, and this is because they hold the highest position. Therefore, they are motivated to provide orders, and they expect nothing less than submission from their followers. When the followers fail to submit to their authority, they consider it to be rude and if they are in power to punish they can do so.

A servant leader takes matters head on without worrying so much about what people will say. In leadership, there is a notion and mentality that leaders are bosses and therefore they should boss people around whenever they need them to perform some tasks (Grady, Johnston, E., Schultz, & Birtwhistle, 2018). However, when it comes to the servant leader, the case is different. A servant leader is a person who engages in activities that are performed by other members of the team. The leader has a goal to serve the people who have placed him or her in that position. A good example can be seen in the case of a leader who has a team that is dealing with a specific design of information technology (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). A servant leader does not keep a distance and tell the members about the algorithms that they will use, instead, he gets the computer and guides the members on how to get to the solution or how to attain the desired goals.

A servant leader is not only a leader but a team player. It is essential to note that most of the leaders take the role of guiding the team members on what to do. The case is contrary to the beliefs and traditions of a servant leader (Chen et al. 2015). A servant leader comes in place to work with the team and not to command the team to work for him or her. A team player is a person who participates in the activities that are carried out by the rest of the team members. It is the choice of a leader to either engage in the activities that are carried out by the rest of the team members or choose to guide the team members when he or she is holding on to his or her highest position of leadership. The servant leader comes in place to be actively engaged in matters of making the team a success.

The success levels of many servant leaders are high, and this is because of the effects that they have on the people who they lead. Team members are likely to be influenced by the actions of their leaders (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). Therefore, it means that if a team leader is engaging in the activities of the team, the team members are motivated to work hard to make sure that they attain the desired goals. Psychologically, team members are challenged by the actions of their leaders. When their leaders prove to be good, the team members do all they can within their power to make sure that they do not let the team leaders down. In the process of doing so, the desired goals are attained, and the success levels of the team are increased and enhanced.

Statement of the Problem

Servant leadership is one of the best models when it comes to leadership; however, there is a question when it comes to classifying a leader as a servant leader. In leadership, it is essential to note that the type of a leader is described by the characteristics of the leader (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). A good example can be seen in the case of leaders like Hitler. The actions of Hitler led to him being given many names that depicted that he was not a good leader. Leadership characteristics are seen in the way a leader discharged his or her mandate or the way the specific leader deals with the team followers (Brooks & Normore, 2015). A leader is always in charge of people and for the leader to attain the desired goals; he or she must work with his or her people. The way the leader associated with the people dictates the type of the leader he or she is. The research is aimed at helping to identify some of the characteristics of a servant leader. Knowing the characteristics will help to easily identify the leaders who fall under the category of servant leaders.

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of any given study is to answer the research questions. The research questions are always drafted in a way that their answers come to help in shedding more light about the topic of the research (Brooks & Normore, 2015). In the case of this topic, there are different purposes for the study. The first purpose is to know how servant leaders are identified. Knowing the type of a leader that one it becomes a challenge and especially if the leader is holding a person for the first time (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). The reason behind it is associated with the fact that people change. At the same time, people try to depict false characters so that they can fit the type of a person that they want others to see. Therefore, it can be a challenge to state that one leader is a servant leader and the other is not.

Observation is essential in identifying the type of a leader. The reason behind it is because it is through observations that one gets to know how a person acts. The fairest way to classify one as a servant leader is by looking at what a person does when the person is discharging his or her leadership roles. At the same time, there is the aspect of observing the relationship between a leader and the team members (Brooks & Normore, 2015). Some leaders might be practicing different leadership styles at the same time, and it is therefore essential for one to closely observe the way a leader deals with his roles as well as his followers (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). The purpose of the research will be to know some of the areas that one should pay closer attention to if one is interested in knowing the type of a leader one is.

The second purpose of the study is to know the complications that are present when it comes to the characterization of a leadership style. Knowing the type of a leader can be a challenge at times. The characteristics of a leader are the ones which are used to dictate and define the type of a leadership style that the leader practices. In this context, it means that identifying the type of a leadership style can be a challenge (Brooks & Normore, 2015). The study comes in to help in collecting data that will help to know some of the characterization complications in identifying a leadership style. The reason why this is important is that if the right procedure is not followed, it can be a challenge to identify a leadership style (Brooks & Normore, 2015). At the same time, there is an aspect of similarity in characteristics when it comes to leadership styles. Some leadership styles have the same characteristics, and that means that if one is not keen, it is possible to mistake the leadership characteristics of different leadership styles.

Complications in characterizing leadership style can lead to the characterization of the wrong leadership. Therefore, there is a dire need for a person to know the exact characteristics of a certain leader. The second purpose is aimed at boosting the knowledge on the type of characteristics that one that one should focus more on (Sousa & Van Dierendonck, 2017). The research will, therefore, equip the targeted audience with the relevant factors to consider when it comes to the process of characterization. Such knowledge will make sure that one can easily identify the characteristics of a leader and attach them to the leadership style that perfectly fits.

The third purpose of the study will look at some of the factors that make the servant leadership model effective. It is essential to note that the servant leadership style is considered to be one of the best leadership styles both politically and from an organizational perspective (Sousa & Van Dierendonck, 2017). With this notion and assumption, there is a dire need to conduct research and collect data that helps to understand some of the reasons why the assumptions are widely embraced (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). The study will look at the effectiveness of the servant leadership style from different perspectives, and this is because leadership is not only considered to be effective if the leaders are good, but every aspect of the leadership must prove that the leadership is effective.

The leader of a team is the head, and therefore he is the backbone of the success of a leadership style. In this respect, it is essential to understand the characteristics of a leader and why they are unique (Sousa & Van Dierendonck, 2016). Different leadership styles are in place, and when it gets to the point of one leadership style being picked to be one of the best, it is evident that there is something unique about the leadership (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). In this context, the study will be looking at some of the aspects that make a servant leader effective (Brooks & Normore, 2015). Some of the areas that will be looked into are the way the leader provides leadership to the people that follow him, the way the leader engages with other members of the team, and the way the behaviors of the leader impacts others because an effective leader must have a direct impact on the team players.

Leadership cannot stand out if there are no team players or people to be led. A leader is only a minute section of leadership, and this is because he must be dealing with team members. The effectiveness of a leadership style is seen in the reaction of the people being led. Therefore, it is important to look at the impacts of leadership styles on people. For example, the reason why dictatorship is seen as a bad type of leadership is that of the effects that it has on the followers (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). It is imperative to note that the followers are the beneficiaries of a leadership style. Therefore, if a leadership style does not convince them that it is the best, the leader will never attain the desired goals. It will be important to look at the effects that servant leadership has on the followers, and by doing so, it will be easier to know why the model is considered to be effective.

The effectiveness of a leadership style is seen in the way a team reaches its goals (Sousa & Van Dierendonck, 2016). The work of a leader is to make sure that the team members work together with the sole aim of reaching the goals that have been set. The process of reaching the goal involves the contribution of both the team members and the leader. Therefore, it means that, if a team does not meet the goals that have been set for it to meet, the effectiveness of the team can be doubted (Kashyap & Rangnekar, 2016). The third purpose of the study is to understand how the servant leadership style helps in attaining the goals of a team (Brooks & Normore, 2015). When a leader is considered to be the most effective, it is evident that it plays a big role in helping a team to reach its desired goals.

Research Questions

How do reputed servant leaders fit the description of Robert Greenleaf’s model of servant leadership?

1)      How are servant leaders identified?

2)      What are the complications of characterizing a leadership style?

3)      What makes servant leadership an effective leadership model?

Limitations and Delimitations

The first limitation of the study is associated with the resources and materials that will be used in collecting essential data. It is essential to note that the research does not look forward to conducting interviews or to collect fresh data (Brooks & Normore, 2015). The study will solely rely on the materials that have been provided by other researchers on the same topic. When collecting data, there different discoveries that make increase the authenticity of the data (Brooks & Normore, 2015). The interviewees who provide the data provide first-hand data, and that means that it cannot be refuted. However, when it comes to using data that has already been collected and analyzed, the authenticity of the data can be questioned.

There are different processes and activities that are involved in research. The collection of data is one of them and also among the critical processes (Davis, 2017). However, the collection of data can be done in the right and the best way, but, if the process of analyzing the data is wrongly done, it can lead to the attainment of results that do not depict the reality (Brooks & Normore, 2015). Considering that the research will be using data that it did not participate in analyzing, it can use data that was not properly analyzed and that will lead to the use of material that does not meet the authenticity threshold.

Dealing with limitations is essential, and this is because it helps in promoting the reliability of the research. The limitation of questionable materials can be dealt with in different ways (Davis, 2017). The first way is associated with the selection model. Considering that the research is focusing on materials that have already been provided, it is important for the research team to make sure that the authenticity of the materials is not questioned. The best way to do so is by only using materials that have been authorized by research and academic panels (Davis, 2017). Before material can be published as research material, it must be vetted. There are different sources and sites that only deal with materials that are vetted to the later. Such sites will be of great help to the whole process because they will give the research team an easy time only to identify the materials that are authentic.

The second way to deal with the limitation is by making sure that all procedures of how the research was conducted are outlined. Researchers have their different ways of doing things. Whereas there are researchers who document every detail and process, there are some who choose to outline the conclusions and only provide a summary of the processes that were involved. In this respect, the need to use materials that document the processes that were used in collecting and analyzing data would come in handy (Brooks & Normore, 2015). Doing so will help in checking for the research materials that did not use any shortcut. By identifying the processes, it will be easier to know if the materials will be used for the research or not.

Definitions

Servant leadership style: It a type of leadership where the leader is actively engaged in the activities that promote serving his followers.

Servant leader: It is a leader who actively engages in activities that promote the well-being of his followers.

Delimitations: The action of fixing limitations or boundaries that may act as a barrier to attain specific goals.

Documentation: The process of jotting down every relevant and essential information or data.

Characterization: The process of assigning characteristics to a certain concept or person.

Importance of the Study

The study is important because it sheds more light on matters that are related to servant leadership. The best way to know about something or a person is by identifying the characteristics of the specific person or concept (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). The study has a goal of looking into the characteristics of servant leadership style. It is therefore evident that the study will shed light on how one can know and identify a servant leader. When a study comes in place to provide more details about a given concept, it also helps in promoting the understanding of other concepts (Klenke, 2016). For example, it is evident that there are other styles of leadership that might have characteristics that are almost similar to those of servant leadership. The importance of the study is that it will give the targeted audience a chance to deeply understand servant leadership and that will make it easier for people to know the difference between servant leadership and other types of leadership.

Personal Connections to the Study

There is a personal connection with the study, and this is because I am a person who believes in providing nothing less than quality leadership. Servant leadership has always been seen to be one of the best leadership models, and it is for this reason that it is essential for me to have an interest with the study because it will help me in knowing the benefits of exercising servant leader (Brooks & Normore, 2015). At the same time, the study comes in place to help me in identifying the characteristics that are connected and associated with servant leadership.

I also have a personal connection with the study and this is in line with my interest and desires to be an effective researcher. The study does not only provide an opportunity to know more about servant leadership, but it also comes in place to help me to attain more skills in research(Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). Research is paramount, and I have an in interest in knowing more than I already know. The process of conducting research is one of the ways that researchers get to gain knowledge. As a person with the interest of knowing more about research, it is evident that this is an opportunity to gain more knowledge. Therefore, the study provides knowledge on areas that I have an interest in thus creating personal connections.

Summary

Servant leadership style is practiced by the leaders who have the desire of serving their people. The reason behind it is because the leadership always needs one to be involved in activities and matters of the team. The research comes in handy to make sure that facts about an issue are collected and used to rule out the assumptions and support the theories. The research comes in handy to enhance the understanding of people on matters that are related to servant leadership (Chiniara & Bentein, 2016). The research focuses on the aspect of characteristics which is critical because characteristics help one to different one concept from another.

The purpose of the study is to make sure that data is provided on the characteristics of a servant leader (Bryman, 2017). The best way to know or attach a leader to a leadership style is by looking at the characteristics of a leadership style and comparing the characteristics of a leadership style with the characteristics of the leader. The study also comes in place to help in understanding why the servant leadership model is effective (Klenke, 2016). The study will attain this goal by looking into different areas that are used to dictate the effectiveness of leadership. It is with no doubt that the study comes in handy to increase knowledge on matters related to servant leadership style.

References

Brooks, J. S., & Normore, A. H. (2015). Qualitative research and educational leadership:   Essential dynamics to consider when designing and conducting      studies. International Journal of Educational Management, 29(7), 798-806.

Bryman, A. (2017). Quantitative and qualitative research: further reflections on their         integration. In Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research (pp. 57-78).  Routledge.

Chen, Z., Zhu, J., & Zhou, M. (2015). How does a servant leader fuel the service fire? A   multilevel model of servant leadership, individual self-identity, group competition         climate, and customer service performance. Journal of Applied         Psychology, 100(2), 511.

Chiniara, M., & Bentein, K. (2016). Linking servant leadership to individual          performance: Differentiating the mediating role of autonomy, competence and            relatedness need satisfaction. The Leadership Quarterly, 27(1), 124-141.

Davis, W. (2017). A Qualitative Study of Leadership Practices Exhibited by Elementary     Principals that Develop Leadership in Others (Doctoral dissertation, The       University of Alabama at Birmingham).

Grady, C., Johnston, E., Schultz, K., & Birtwhistle, R. (2018). Incorporating leadership    development into family medicine residency: a qualitative study of program   directors in Canada. MedEdPublish, 7.

Kashyap, V., & Rangnekar, S. (2016). Servant leadership, employer brand perception,       trust in leaders and turnover intentions: a sequential mediation model. Review of            Managerial Science, 10(3), 437-461.

Klenke, K. (2016). Qualitative research in the study of leadership. Emerald Group  Publishing Limited.

Sousa, M., & van Dierendonck, D. (2017). Servant leadership and the effect of the            interaction between humility, action, and hierarchical power on follower engagement. Journal of Business Ethics, 141(1), 13-25.

Sousa, M., & Van Dierendonck, D. (2016). Introducing a short measure of shared servant leadership impacting team performance through team behavioral            integration. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 2002.