Visit the “Competitive Advantages” page of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership website at https://www.greenleaf.org/winning-workplaces/workplace-resources/research-studies/competitive-advantages/ and review the articles indicating ways that servant leadership helps organizations gain competitive advantage. Using that information along with the Topic Materials, discuss how servant leadership contributes to competitive advantage in contemporary organizations. Provide specific industry examples of companies that have thrived as servant leaders.
B.
One of the challenges often faced by nonprofit organizations is financial viability. Consider how the service leadership model can make a nonprofit organization competitive in ways that are not profit driven. In your post, discuss whether or not the value the nonprofit provides to the community and the greater good is professionally appealing enough to make you want to explore as a career opportunity despite the fact that in many cases than the personal and financial gains offered by nonprofits may not match what is available in for-profit organizations.
RESOURCES
Electronic Resource
1. “Servant Leadership” – Serve to Be Great
Read “‘Servant Leadership’ – Serve to Be Great,” located on the Intellisource website (2015).
http://www.intellisource.com/2015/02/servant-leadership-serve-great/
2. 1 Little-Known Advantage Most Investors Miss
Read “1 Little-Known Advantage Most Investors Miss,” by Lomax, located on The Motley Fool website (2014).
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/10/23/1-little-known-advantage-most-investors-miss.aspx
3. At Their Service
Read “At Their Service,” by Drake, located on the Smart CEO website (2013).
https://web.archive.org/web/20160610105450/http://www.smartceo.com/wawas-ceo-servant-leadership/
4. DOs & DON’Ts of Servant Leadership
Read “DOs & DON’Ts of Servant Leadership,” located on the Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center website (2015).
http://ritzcarltonleadershipcenter.com/2015/09/dos-donts-of-servant-leadership/
5. Leadership Expert Simon Sinek on Putting Others First
View “Leadership Expert Simon Sinek on Putting Others First,” located on the YouTube website (2014).
6. Servant Leadership Sustains Competitive US Manufacturing Advantage
Read “Servant Leadership Sustains Competitive US Manufacturing Advantage,” by Martin, located on the Industry Today website (2012).
http://industrytoday.com/article_view.asp?ArticleID=we385
7. Servant Leadership: A Path to High Performance
Read “Servant Leadership: A Path to High Performance,” by Hess, from The Washington Post (2013).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/servant-leadership-a-path-to-high-performance/2013/04/26/435e58b2-a7b8-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html
Website
1. America’s Worst Charities
The America’s Worst Charities website can be used to conduct research for the topic assignment.
http://www.tampabay.com/topics/specials/worst-charities/
2. Charity Navigator
The Charity Navigator website can be used to conduct research for the topic assignment.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/
3. Charity Watch
The Top Rated Charities page of the Charity Watch website can be used to conduct research for the topic assignment.
https://www.charitywatch.org/top-rated-charities
4. Competitive Advantages
Review the Competitive Advantages page of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership website to locate servant leadership articles.
https://www.greenleaf.org/winning-workplaces/workplace-resources/research-studies/competitive-advantages/
5. TopNonprofits
The Top 100 Nonprofits on the Web page of the TopNonprofits website can be used to conduct research for the topic assignment.
https://topnonprofits.com/lists/best-nonprofits-on-the-web/
Unit 3
A.
Think about how your personal values correlate with the principles of servant leadership. How can you draw on values and servant leadership principles to better establish your followership to better serve those you lead professionally and personally?
B.
Suppose you go to work for an organization that you discover does not align with your personal values. You are in a leadership role and you are not in a position to leave the job. How do you ethically represent the company without compromising your own beliefs? What is the deal breaker for you? How does ethically representing the company demonstrate your ability to be a servant leader?
RESOURCES
Electronic Resource
1. As a Servant Leader, You Can Change the World Commencement Address
Read “‘As a Servant Leader, You Can Change the World’ Commencement Address,” by George, located on the Bill George website (2013).
http://www.billgeorge.org/page/as-a-servant-leader-you-can-change-the-world
2. Chick-fil-A Founder Was Embodiment of Servant Leader Philosophy
Read “Chick-fil-A Founder Was Embodiment of Servant Leader Philosophy,” by Oswald, located on the HR Hero website (2014).
http://blogs.hrhero.com/oswaldletters/2014/09/15/chick-fil-a-founder-was-embodiment-of-servant-leader-philosophy/
3. Leading as a Servant
Read “Leading as a Servant,” by Krakowski, from Entrepreneur (2014).
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/231242
4. Serving More Than the Bottom Line
Read “Serving More Than the Bottom Line,” by Brodsky, located on the Human Resource Executive Online website (2015).
http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/view/story.jhtml?id=534358775
5. The Business of Consciousness
Read “The Business of Consciousness,” by McEllin, located on the Examiner website (2013).
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/business-consciousness-steve-mcellin-mba
Unit 4
A.
Think about the principles of servant leadership and provide two examples of specific ways you can apply them in your current work environment, as member of a community group or organization with which you are involved, or in your personal life. Discuss the specific servant leadership principles you would apply, the methods you would use to apply the principles, and the results you would anticipate seeing as a result of implementing these servant leadership principles.
B.
Conduct research about a biblical figure such as Moses, David, Paul, Joseph, Esther, or Nehemiah to learn about how the biblical leader exemplified servant leadership and see how the principles of servant leadership transcend time and place. Think about the contemporary leader you are researching for the Topic 4 assignment, and discuss the similarities you see between the biblical servant leader and the contemporary servant leader. Provide specific examples to illustrate the similarities you have identified and include discussion about what you think makes the principles of servant leadership applicable regardless of time or place.
RESOURCES
6. ‘Servant’ Leadership Style Is Best for Bosses
Read “‘Servant’ Leadership Style Is Best for Bosses,” by Brooks, located on the Business News Daily website (2015).
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7964-best-leadership-style.html
7. 10 Tips on How IT Leaders Can Develop a Service-Oriented Perspective
Read “10 Tips on How IT Leaders Can Develop a Service-Oriented Perspective,” by Tennant, located on the IT Business Edge website (2014).
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/from-under-the-rug/10-tips-on-how-it-leaders-can-develop-a-service-oriented-perspective.html
8. 9 Ways to Motivate People Using Servant Leadership
Read “9 Ways to Motivate People Using Servant Leadership,” by McCuistion, located on the About Leaders website (2013).
http://aboutleaders.com/9-ways-to-motivate-people-using-servant-leadership/#gs.51M4nGk
9. Being a Servant Leader in the Age of Technology
Read “Being a Servant Leader in the Age of Technology,” by Hollis, located on the Huffington Post website (2015).
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-b-hollis/being-a-servant-leader-in-the-age-of-technology_b_8016290.html
10. Recognizing Servant-Leaders – Not Drum Majors
Read “Recognizing Servant-Leaders – Not Drum Majors,” located on the Dreams InDeed International website.
https://www.dreamsindeed.org/news/recognizing-servant-leaders-not-drum-majors/
Other
1. Individual and Corporate Servant Leaders
The “Individual and Corporate Servant Leaders” resource can be used as a reference for discussion questions throughout the course and for completion of some course assignments.