[Reading Log -131] Practical Course on Servant Leadership
When studying leadership theory, the term "servant leadership" comes up from time to time. Every time I hear that word, Dobby pops into my head. He is the house-elf who appears in "Harry Potter".
"Master, please leave it to Dobby..."
Thinking of that image, I wonder.
Are you a leader or a servant? Which is it?
So, to be honest, I didn't have a very good impression of the term "servant leadership." However, after reading "Practical Course on Servant Leadership" by Shigehito Sanada, that impression changed significantly.
While reading this book, I thought:
Perhaps this philosophy is "losing out due to its translation" before even considering the theory itself.
The author points out that traditional top-down leadership is reaching its limits in modern society. The background to this is the progress of a mature society, globalization, and the internet society.
In the past, organizations functioned because bosses held the information and subordinates followed.
But now it is different. With the spread of the internet, the people on the front lines know more about the customers than the bosses, and the people in charge know more about the technology than the bosses. In an era where information asymmetry has collapsed, the role required of a leader has also changed.
This book lists the following five values as necessary elements for a servant leader.
・Respect for individuals
・Leading
・Serving
・Unleashing people's potential
・Connecting to growth
Also, as its characteristics,
・Listening
・Empathy
・Healing
・Awareness
・Persuasion
・Conceptualization
・Foresight
・Stewardship
・Commitment to the growth of people
・Building community
are organized as the 10 items.
What is interesting is that words like "commanding," "managing," "evaluating," and "monitoring" do not appear even once among these.
It is quite different from the image of a leader that we generally have.
And as far as reading this book goes, "servant-like" behavior is not recommended. Rather, what is recommended in this book is a leader figure who strives to create an environment where people can demonstrate their abilities.
Recently, I have been continuing to mentor young managers.
In those dialogues, what I am doing is not goal setting or career counseling. I talk about logistics, management, or AI. Then, little by little, questions start to be asked...
While reading this book, I thought that perhaps I wasn't trying to change people, but just creating an environment where learning could occur.
No one can make another person grow.
Growth is something only that person can do.
As for what I can do, it is only to create an environment where the mentees can grow on their own.
Now that I have finished reading this book, a character from "Harry Potter" is in my head.
But that figure is not Dobby.
It is Dumbledore.
Dumbledore is the headmaster of Hogwarts. He does not give the students the answers. He does not give detailed instructions either. However, he creates a place for learning and prepares an environment where people can grow.
Thinking about it that way, perhaps the name "servant leadership" really is losing out a little.
I would call it "Principal Leadership" instead.
I feel that is much closer to the essence than Dobby, whom I thought of first, at the very least.
Reference Links
・Amazon "Servant Leadership Practical Course" Book Introduction Page
・Realize Inc.: Shigehito Sanada Lecture Report
・Hitachi Solutions Interview