Becoming a Servant-Leader
Book

Becoming a Servant-Leader

A Workbook for Bringing Skill and Spirit to Professional and Personal Life

Rayna Schroeder, Jackie Bahn-Henkelman and Jim Henkelman-Bahn
Gabriel Center, 2012
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Applicable

Recommendation

Servant-leaders respect their employees, encourage open communication, demonstrate honesty and seek consensus whenever possible. They don’t use their power to intimidate or create fear. Those clinging to “my way or the highway” management should tap into the knowledge and insight of authors Rayna Schroeder, Jim Henkelman-Bahn and Jackie Bahn-Henkelman. Their workbook, published by the nonprofit Gabriel Center for Servant-Leadership, explains the components of servant-leadership and offers helpful exercises and scenarios. Adopting the noble objectives of servant-leadership requires commitment and a specific mind-set, but the benefits are profound and undeniable. getAbstract recommends this wise guide to leaders at all levels and to those who wish to lead.

Summary

Others Come First

Instead of leading by intimidation and force, servant-leadership works through empathy, compromise and putting others’ needs before your own.

Servant-leaders demonstrate 10 abilities:

  1. “Listening” – Pay active attention to what other people are saying while heeding your own internal messages.
  2. “Empathy” – Put yourself in the other person’s shoes by listening and reflecting.
  3. “Healing” – Give transformative spiritual aid to others and gain spiritual knowledge through your actions.
  4. “Awareness” – Be in tune with your thoughts and actions, and consider how your behavior affects others.
  5. “Persuasion” – Seek compromise and harmony without coercion.
  6. “Conceptualization” – Broaden your perspective by looking beyond your daily challenges and tasks.
  7. “Foresight” – Learn from past experiences, deal with current issues and assess the impact of future choices.

About the Authors

Rayna Schroeder is the chief encouragement officer of Joy of Life Coaching. Jim Henkelman-Bahn and Jackie Bahn-Henkelman own Bahn-Henkelman Consultants. Rev. Katherine Elberfeld founded the nonprofit Gabriel Center for Servant-Leadership where her son, Mark Elberfeld, is president. The center originally published this book in three volumes entitled Leading With Skill and Spirit: The Servant-Leader Journey.

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    S. A. 6 years ago
    I’m a firm believer in the inverted pyramid of management, where the management team’s main job is to support, nurture and encourage the team.
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    A. M. 7 years ago
    Great summary and helpful behaviors highlighted. Respect, honesty, open communication and seeking input to gain mutual understanding.