Servant Leadership Vs. Followership: Compare and Contrast Essay Example

In this essay, I will define, compare, and contrast followership and servant leadership. Followership and servant leadership are like two sides of the same coin. They exist separately but share plenty of attributes from the Army’s Leadership Requirements Model. 

The phrase ‘servant leadership’ is credited to Robert K. Greenleaf. It is a form of leadership where the leader places the needs and wellbeing of his/her subordinates first. In Greenleaf’s words, “The servant leader is servant first …” Alternatively, followership is the active pursuit of a leader’s goal for the organization by a follower. However, both terminologies have similarities.

For instance, trust and respect. Servant leaders need to trust and respect their followers’ methods and will to accomplish tasks assigned to them. Trust comes from understanding team dynamics and building personal relationships with their subordinates. On the same token, effective followers need to trust and respect their leader’s guidance when tackling the organization’s missions. Furthermore, both positions need to employ critical thinking and confidence when going about their tasks. Confidence in their decisions and actions is a result of critical thinking. This displays competence to the rest of the team members and further strengthens the cohesiveness of the team. These are just but a few of the similarities.

The main difference between servant leadership and followership lies in the tasks and level of accountability for each position. Servant leaders are leaders still. Meaning they must maintain individual and team accountability. They focus on current tasks and future missions for the organization. Whereas in followership, followers focus individual accountability and current tasks. Followership holds less responsibility.

In conclusion, we can see that servant leadership and followership have minor differences but a lot of similarities. In fact, both are subject to the Army’s Leadership Requirement’s Model. Be, know, and do.

References

FM 6-22 Leader Development – United States Army. (n.d). Retrieved from https://rdl.train.army.mil/catalog-ws/view/FM6-22Supplement

“Army Profession and Leadership Policy.” Https://Armypubs.army.mil, armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN3758_AR_600-100_FINAL_WEB_.pdf. 

Greenleaf, R. K. (2002). Servant Leadership: a Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness. Paulist Press.