syllibus
Servant Leadership
Details This course focuses on servant leadership
and ethical leadership, explores how servant
leadership is different from other styles of
leadership, and examines how this connects to
ethics, accountability, and being a responsible
leader.
Credit Hours 4.0
PreRequisites None
coRequisites None
Course Add-Ons Additional Material
Textbook
Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and
Research
Dierendonck, D., & Patterson, K. (2010).
Servant leadership: Developments in theory and
research. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press LLC.
ISBN-13: 9780230238268
http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/
bedford-freeman-and-worth/2010/servantleadership_developments-in-theory-andresearch_ebook_1e.php
Other
Creating a Personal Model of Leadership
Use “Creating a Personal Model of Leadership” to
assist you in the assignments with the same name.
Electronic Resource
Core Values Media
View “Core Values Media” to assist you with your
personal model of leadership.
http://lc.gcumedia.com/zwebassets/
courseMaterialPages/mgt410_core-values-v1.1.php
Topics
Topic 1: An Introduction to Servant
Leadership
Duration: 7 days
Description:
Objectives:
1. Discuss the paradox of servant leadership.
2. Explain the unique elements of servant leadership.
3. Compare servant leadership to other models of leadership.
Topic Material:
Textbook
1. Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and Research
Read Chapters 1 and 2.
Electronic Resource
2. The Essentials of Servant Leadership: Principles in Practice
Read “The Essentials of Servant Leadership: Principles in Practice,”
by McGee-Cooper and Trammell, located on the Ann McGee-Cooper &
Associates, Inc. website.
Electronic Resource
3. Southwest Airlines’ Colleen Barrett on Servant Leadership
View “Southwest Airlines’ Colleen Barrett on Servant Leadership,”
located on the YouTube website.
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Assignment Leadership and Management Models
Review the variety of graphic
representations of servant leadership
models and other leadership/management
models listed below. You may search
online for others as well. As you
review the models, consider what
you think are the most significant
differences between servant leadership
models and other models. Then either
create your own graphic to visually
represent your understanding of
servant leadership or revise one of
the existing graphics so that it better
represents your understanding. If you
revise an existing model, be sure to
credit your original source.
Once you have created your model,
compose a brief analysis (250 words)
that addresses the following:
What are the most significant
differences between servant leadership
models and other models?
Define the paradox of servant
leadership and explain where you
see this paradox present in your own
representation.
Based on your understanding of
effective leadership, how do you think
your representation captures those
qualities or characteristics?
APA format is not required, but solid
academic writing is expected.
You are not required to submit this
assignment to Turnitin.
Suggested Models
80.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Servant Leadership, Ethics and the
Domains of Leadership
https://www.regent.edu/acad/global/
publications/sl_proceedings/2007/
griffith.pdf
Leadership Responsibilities of
Professionals
http://www.kon.org/hswp/archive/
mitstifer_4.htm
Leadership Framework (LF)
discover/leadership-framework/
Sustainability Leadership Relational
Model
http://
www.sustainabilityleadershipinstitute.org/
atomic.php
Stephanie Reynolds Consulting
page_id=16
ASAE The Center for Association
Leadership
https://www.asaecenter.org/resources/
articles/an_magazine/2013/january/8-
common-leadership-styles
Discussion
Question
Topic 1 DQ 2
Watch the video “Southwest Airline’s
Colleen Barrett on Servant Leadership.”
What did you learn about servant
leadership from the video? What
principle from the video can you apply
in your leadership situations?
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 1 DQ 1
The idea of “servant leadership” may
be considered a paradox. Describe this
paradox in the context of leadership.
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 1 DQ 3
In the “The Essentials of Servant
Leadership: Principles in Practice,”
by McGee-Cooper and Trammell, several
distinctions are made between a servant
leader and a power-based leader. Using
one pair of distinctions, describe
an experience you have had that was
managed using a power-based style.
Explain how you think a servant leader
would have handled it differently.
0.0
Participation 20.0
Topic 2: Understanding Servant
Leadership
Duration: 7 days
Description:
Objectives:
1. Discuss the emphases of servant leadership.
2. Explain the relationship between moral and ethical principles and
servant leadership practices.
Topic Material:
Textbook
1. Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and Research
Read Chapters 3 and 4.
Electronic Resource
2. The Challenge of Ethical Leadership
Read “The Challenge of Ethical Leadership,” by Fulmer, located on the
Kantakji website.
Website
4. Margaret J. Wheatley Website
Explore the Margaret J. Wheatley website.
Electronic Resource
5. The Understanding and Practice of Servant-Leadership
Read “The Understanding and Practice of Servant-Leadership,” by
Spears, from Servant Leadership Research Roundtable (2005).
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Discussion
Question
Topic 2 DQ 1
Review the seven different emphases
of servant leadership in Chapter 3
of your textbook. Which emphasis was
most divergent from your view about
servant leadership and which was most
convergent? Explain your response.
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 2 DQ 2
Sendjaya, in Chapter 4 of your
textbook, argues that servant
leadership is a holistic and
multidimensional approach to leading.
What does the author mean?
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 2 DQ 3
You just completed the first topic in
your PSC-410 class. You are excited
about what you have learned so far.
You try to share your excitement with
your supervisor and tell him you are
taking a servant leadership class.
His response is, “Servant leadership
is overrated. You can’t get any real
work done that way, you know. Cuddling
people and being a soft leader will
0.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
not get you very far.” You brush off
his remark, but decide to revisit the
subject with him later because you
believe he has the wrong view about
servant leadership. How do you think
you would approach your supervisor on
the subject? What should you say?
Participation 20.0
Topic 3: Servant Leadership:
Transcending Boundaries
Duration: 7 days
Description:
Objectives:
1. Analyze how servant leadership transcends cultural and religious
boundaries.
2. Compare servant leadership to spiritual leadership.
3. Discuss cultural perspectives that impede the adoption of servant
leadership.
Topic Material:
Textbook
1. Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and Research
Read Chapters 5 and 10.
Electronic Resource
4. The Levels of Leadership and Transcendent Servant Leadership Development
Read “The Levels of Leadership and Transcendent Servant Leadership
Development,” by McClellan, from the Journal of Leadership
Education (2009).
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Assignment Servant Leadership in Diverse Contexts
While servant leadership is often
associated with Christianity and
the Bible, one could argue it is
compatible with most religions and
philosophies and that it transcends
cultures. This assignment presents you
with an opportunity to explore other
cultures, philosophies, and religions
and asks you to think critically
about how servant leadership practices
are apparent in other religious and
cultural values.
Select one cultural context and
one religious viewpoint (other than
Christianity, its denominations,
or something already discussed in
100.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
the textbook) and examine how the
principles of servant leadership are
evident in that culture and religion.
In a 1,250-1,500-word essay, identify
similarities and differences between
servant leadership’s philosophies and
the values evident in the selected
cultural context and religious
viewpoint. Be sure to provide specific
examples of practices and/or values in
your discussion.
You are required to locate two articles
that examine servant leadership from
a different cultural perspective and
two articles that examine servant
leadership from a different religious
perspective. Be sure to select academic
articles from reputable sources that
are 10-20 pages in length. Include
information from the articles in your
discussion.
Prepare this assignment according to
the guidelines found in the APA Style
Guide, located in the Student Success
Center. An abstract is not required.
Refer to the rubric attached titled,
“Topic 3: Servant Leadership in Diverse
Contexts,” prior to beginning the
assignment to become familiar with the
expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this
assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to
the directions in the Student Success
Center.
Discussion
Question
Topic 3 DQ 2
Servant leadership is explored within
different cultural contexts in Chapter
10 of your textbook. Identify at least
two culturally specific variables
that impede the adoption of servant
leadership within one specific cultural
perspective. If you were transferred
to that country to work, armed with
this knowledge, what would you do
differently to bring about a change in
perception of servant leadership?
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 3 DQ 1
Review the discussion on the concept
of service and leadership in four
religious traditions. What similarities
and differences do you see across the
10.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
four religious traditions? How has
this shaped your thinking about other
religious traditions?
Discussion
Question
Topic 3 DQ 3
Arguably, one of the most influential
servant leaders of our time has been
Nelson Mandela. What characteristics
of servant leadership did Mandela
display? Do you think they were
culturally influenced? Which of these
would you have found personally
challenging to display if you faced
the same conditions that he did? Do
you think that challenge is culturally
influenced?
0.0
Participation 20.0
Topic 4: The Servant Leader Duration: 7 days
Description:
Objectives:
1. Identify the foundational values of a personal model of leadership.
2. Describe how leaders use servant leadership principles to influence
individual, group, and organizational behavior.
3.
Topic Material:
Textbook
1. Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and Research
Read Chapters 6, 7, and 8.
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Discussion
Question
Topic 4 DQ 1
How does “love” work from the
perspective of a servant leader as well
as from the perspective of those who
are led? Explain the transformative
power of love in both contexts.
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 4 DQ 2
As followers, how might we experience
differences when we are being led by a
leader who has a “motivation-to-lead”
vs. a leader with a “motivation-toserve”?
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 4 DQ 3
How and why should a servant leader
instill a spirit of consciousness,
gratitude, and forgiveness in their
organization?
0.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Participation 20.0
Topic 5: Values Duration: 7 days
Description:
Objectives:
1. Discuss values-based leadership.
2. Define how personal leadership behaviors reflect desired values.
Topic Material:
Electronic Resource
2. Finding Higher Common Ground on Values
Read “Finding Higher Common Ground on Values,” by McLaughlin, from
the Center for Visionary Leadership (2005).
Electronic Resource
3. The Value of Corporate Values
Read “The Value of Corporate Values,” by Van Lee, Fabish, and McGaw,
from Strategy + Business (2005).
Other
5. Values Based Leadership
View “Values Based Leadership” (a talk by Robert McDonald). Internet
Explorer or Google Chrome is required to watch this video.
Other
6. Core Values Media
View “Core Values Media” to assist you with your personal model of
leadership.
Electronic Resource
8. Building From Within: Designing a Values-Based Cultural Template
Read “Building From Within: Designing a Values-Based Cultural
Template,” by Hester and Young, from Journal of Values-Based
Leadership (2013).
Electronic Resource
9. Rokeach Values Survey
The link provided is used to locate the Rokeach Values Survey as part
of your assignments this week.
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Assignment Personal Model of Leadership – Part 1
Select the basic values that will
provide the foundation of your model
and discuss the leadership behaviors
that will result from those values
(500 words). Be sure to select values
from each of the following four
levels: individual, interpersonal,
100.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
organizational, and societal. Use
the “Creating a Personal Model of
Leadership” instructions and your
“Rokeach Values Survey” to guide you.
Prepare this assignment according to
the guidelines found in the APA Style
Guide, located in the Student Success
Center. An abstract is not required.
Refer to “Topic 5: Personal Model
of Leadership (Part 1),” prior to
beginning the assignment to become
familiar with the expectations for
successful completion.
You are required to submit this
assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to
the directions in the Student Success
Center.
Assignment Rokeach Values Survey
Utilize the “Rokeach Values Survey”
to help you determine your values
hierarchy, which will assist you in the
development of your personal model of
leadership. After ranking the values
according to the instructions, identify
your top three terminal values and your
top three instrumental values. Submit a
250-300-word reflection that identifies
your values hierarchy and explains the
significance it might have on your
leadership style.
Link to the survey:
http://www.wec.ufl.edu/faculty/
jacobsons/wis6525/rokeach_value_survey
%20personal%20responses.pdf
You are not required to submit this
assignment to Turnitin.
20.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 5 DQ 1
Considering the increased focus
on values such as sustainability,
environmental rights, human rights,
and social responsibility, identify the
behaviors and actions you might see in
boards, senior leadership teams, and
employees based on these values.
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 5 DQ 2
Find an organization with a mission
and/or vision statement. What values
do you see reflected in the statement?
What important values are absent in
your opinion?
10.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Discussion
Question
Topic 5 DQ 3
Read “Leading Through Shared Values”
and “The Role of Values in Servant
Leadership.” What role do the values of
leaders play in organizational culture?
0.0
Participation 20.0
Topic 6: The Servant Organization Duration: 7 days
Description:
Objectives:
1. Discuss the importance of developing a vision and modeling its
values within an organization.
2. Develop a vision statement that promotes servant leadership.
3.
Topic Material:
Textbook
1. Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and Research
Read Chapters 9 and 11.
Electronic Resource
3. All About Boards of Directors (For-Profit and Nonprofit)
Read “All About Boards of Directors (For-Profit and Nonprofit),” by
McNamara, from the All About Boards of Directors website.
Electronic Resource
5. Fortune’s Best Companies to Work With Servant Leadership
Read “Fortune’s Best Companies to Work With Servant Leadership,” by
Lichtenwalner, located on the Modern Servant Leader website (2014).
Electronic Resource
7. Why Use Servant Leadership in My Organization
View “Why Use Servant Leadership in My Organization,” located on the
Dailymotion website.
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Assignment Mission Statement Analysis
This assignment asks you to analyze
various companies’ mission or
organizational vision statements
to determine how such statements
guide leadership practices within an
organization.
Select a mission statement or
organizational vision statement
from one company that professes to
practice servant leadership and one
that practices a standard leadership
model. Some well-known companies
100.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
that practice servant leadership are
Southwest Airlines, REI, and Aflac.
Conduct additional research to locate
others.
Once you have selected two companies,
write a 1,000-1,250 word analysis that
addresses the following:
Compare and contrast the mission and/
or organizational visions statements
of the two companies. What are the
similarities and differences? How do
you think these statements impact the
culture of each organization?
What servant leadership principles
or values are either explicitly or
implicitly apparent in the mission/
vision statement of the company that
professes to be servant-led?
Explain how you see the principles
expressed in the statements manifested
in each company’s public reputation,
and how they treat their employees
in the services they provide, their
marketing, etc. Provide a few specific
examples to demonstrate your points.
Do you think each company is living
out the values/principles expressed
in their statements? Why or why not?
If the more traditionally led company
adopted a servant leadership model,
what revisions to their mission/values
statement would be warranted? Be sure
to comment on your understanding of how
such mission/vision statements can or
should guide a company’s treatment of
its employees and clients.
Include the mission or organizational
vision statements of the companies you
selected in your analysis.
You are required to locate four
articles that support your selected
organization’s mission or vision
statement. Two of the selected articles
must be peer reviewed journal articles.
Include information from the articles
in your discussion.
Prepare this assignment according to
the guidelines found in the APA Style
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Guide, located in the Student Success
Center. An abstract is not required.
Refer to “Topic 6: Mission Statement
Analysis,” prior to beginning the
assignment to become familiar with the
expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this
assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to
the directions in the Student Success
Center.
Discussion
Question
Topic 6 DQ 1
Develop a vision statement for any
organization of your choice. Your
vision statement should be designed
to encourage a high-performing and
competitive future for the organization
and promote servant leadership. Keep
the vision under 50 words.
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 6 DQ 2
How can servant leadership transform
boards and be a transformational force
in society?
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 6 DQ 3
In Chapter 9 of the textbook, Laub
argues that a servant organization
“is one in which the characteristics
of servant leadership are displayed
through the organizational culture
and practiced by the leadership and
the workforce.” Select one of the
servant leader organizations from
“Fortune’s Best Companies to Work for
With Servant Leadership” and explain
how the characteristics of servant
leadership are displayed and practiced
within that organization. (Note: Do not
use SWA or TDIndustries.)
0.0
Participation 20.0
Topic 7: Followership Duration: 7 days
Description:
Objectives:
1. Explain the significance of followership in servant leadership.
2. Explain the importance of meeting followers’ needs in effective
servant leadership.
Topic Material:
Textbook
1. Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and Research
Read Chapters 12 and 13.
Electronic Resource
3. Leaders, Too, Need Support
Read “Leaders, Too, Need Support,” by Peterson, located on the
AZCentral website.
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Assignment CLC – Profiles in Leadership
Presentation
This is a Collaborative Learning
Community (CLC) assignment.
The class will be placed by the
instructor into groups. Each team
member will personally interview one
leader of his/her choice. Examples
of leaders can include, but are not
limited to, former or current managers
or supervisors, educational leaders,
civic/business leaders, and religious
leaders. This interview can take place
via phone, via e-mail, or in person.
To ensure that the interviews yield
comparable results, the team must
prepare a list of questions to ask the
chosen leaders (interviewees). As a
team, choose four questions from the
list below:
What are the most important qualities
an effective leader should have?
What is the importance of trust in
leadership?
What are the qualities you want most in
an employee? Why?
Who has had the most influence on how
you lead? Why?
In what areas would you like to improve
your leadership?
How do your employees react to your
leadership?
Have you engaged in 360-degree
feedback? If so, what has been the
result?
What is the role of effective
communication in leadership?
How would you rate yourself at being
able to communicate with all your
important stakeholders?
In addition to the four interview
questions your team will use from the
110.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
above list, as a group, generate two
more questions, for a total of six
interview questions. Please note: Each
team member is required to ask his/
her chosen leaders the same interview
questions so you must decide as a team
which questions you will ask.
After conducting the interview, each
team member will individually create
a leadership profile of his/her chosen
leader within a PowerPoint presentation
(5-6 slides). Be sure to include the
following in your individual leadership
profile:
A slide that introduces your chosen
leader
A summary of the answers to the
interview questions
A description of the leadership model
with which the leader seems most
closely aligned
After creating your individual
leadership profile, the team will then
compile all team members’ individual
slide sets for a group PowerPoint
presentation of 22-26 slides (based
on a four-person group). Be sure to
include the following in your team
compilation of leadership profiles:
A summary that describes any
characteristics of servant leadership
that are displayed by any of the
leaders.
Other commonalities among the leaders,
in terms of values, beliefs, and impact
on the community.
Note: The team compilation will add one
or two additional slides for a total of
22-26 (based on a four-person group).
APA format is required for essays
only. Solid academic writing is
always expected. For all assignment
delivery options, documentation of
sources should be presented using APA
formatting guidelines, which can be
found in the APA Style Guide, located
in the Student Success Center.
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Refer to “Topic 7: CLC – Profiles in
Leadership Presentation,” prior to
beginning the assignment to become
familiar with the expectations for
successful completion.
You are not required to submit this
assignment to Turnitin.
Assignment PSC-410 Peer Evaluation
Complete “PSC-410 Peer Evaluation
Form.” All members of the CLC group
must complete the evaluation.
Your grade on this assignment will be
the average grade received from your
team members.
20.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 7 DQ 2
What is the role of followership in
supporting servant leaders?
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 7 DQ 1
How can servant leadership impact
followers’ attitudes and behaviors in
organizations?
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 7 DQ 3
Direndonck and Rook, in Chapter 13
of the textbook, argue that servant
leadership is related to creativity.
They discuss eight dimensions that
could affect this relationship. Which
do you think your organization can
improve upon in order to stimulate
creativity?
0.0
Participation 20.0
Topic 8: Practicing Servant
Leadership
Duration: 7 days
Description:
Objectives:
1. Relate a sense of meaning and purpose to one’s personal model of
servant leadership.
2. Create a personal model of leadership that incorporates
contributions to others, organizations, and society.
3. Explain how Greenleaf’s Theology of Institutions applies to
institutions in society today.
Topic Material:
Other
2. Core Values Media
View “Core Values Media” to assist you with your personal model of
leadership.
Textbook
4. Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and Research
Read Chapters 14 and 15.
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
Assignment Benchmark Assignment- Personal Model
of Leadership – Part 2
Write a paper of 1,250-1,500 words that
presents your complete personal model
of leadership. Be sure to incorporate
the instructor’s feedback from the
draft of Part 1. The three parts
involved in creating your personal
model of leadership are as follows:
Select the basic values that will
provide the foundation of your model
and identify the leadership behaviors
that will result from those values. Be
sure to select values from all four of
the levels: individual, interpersonal,
organizational, and societal (be sure
to incorporate the feedback from your
instructor from your previous draft).
Identify how your personal model of
leadership helps you create a sense
of meaning and purpose for yourself,
others, organizations, and society.
Identify the impact of your
contributions to self, others,
organizations, and society.
Prepare this assignment according to
the guidelines found in the APA Style
Guide, located in the Student Success
Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please
review the rubric prior to beginning
the assignment to become familiar
with the expectations for successful
completion.
You are required to submit this
assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to
the directions in the Student Success
Center.
150.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 8 DQ 1
What could lead to Greenleaf’s theology
of institutions becoming a viable
model for making societal change? What
stands in the way of this idea being
achievable?
10.0
Discussion
Question
Topic 8 DQ 2 10.0
Gradable Items Details Points Possible
In developing your leadership
philosophy, what new insights did you
gain about yourself as a leader?
Discussion
Question
Topic 8 DQ 3
Explain how servant leadership can
improve communities and society. Why is
leadership courage important to realize
these changes?
0.0
Participation 20.0
Grade Scale
Letter
Grade
GPA Value Minimum Maximum Interpretation
of Level of
Performance
A 4.0 93.0 100.0 Superior;
outstanding
scholarship
A- 3.7 90.0 92.99 Superior;
outstanding
scholarship
B+ 3.3 87.0 89.99 Superior;
outstanding
scholarship
B 3.0 83.0 86.99 Above average; good
work
B- 2.7 80.0 82.99 Average standard
performance
C+ 2.3 77.0 79.99 Average standard
performance
C 2.0 70.0 76.99
D 1.0 60.0 69.99 Below standard
F 0.0 0.0 59.99 Failure
I 0.0 0.0 Course work is
incomplete
W 0.0 0.0 Authorized
withdrawal; no
credit
– 0.0 0.0
– 0.0 0.0
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