Servant Leadership - The Art of Identifying Needs

Hunters parable of leadership identifies the characteristics and attitudes of a leader, but the essence of the tale can be expressed even ore si ply! a leader can identify and act on the

needs of others" #ach of the points expressed throughout the text, introduction included, can be related to this one state ent" $ithout the ability to distinguish needs and separate the %ants, the entire concept collapses upon itself" The initial step to deter ining these ele ents is listening" &astly different fro active listening and consideration of anothers co person %ants, needs, and hearing, fro

ents %ill allo% one to deter ine %hat that

ay allo% one to infer %hat is needed, although not expressed in

conversation" 'y providing honest and constructive feedbac(, both negative and positive, %ants can be %inno%ed fro atte pting to needs, and a plan of action can begin" $ithout action, eeting or

eet those needs, the process of building trust cannot continue" As Hunter hi self

states, intentions %ithout action are %orthless" 'y the action of eeting those needs, potentially at a personal cost, one begins the

process of building trust" 'uilding trust and a personal relationship %ith others is the beginning of authority, and authority lends influence" )nce one has developed a sense of authority, others %ill follo% suggestions given due to trust, and if given honestly and %ith good intent, continue to build on the authority and trust already present in the relationship" Authority %ithout trust is i possible, and it is authority granted by trust that can allo% one to beco e a leader of others" Trust can only be earned" )nce authority has gro%n sufficiently, others %ill respond to that authority regardless of the a ount, or lac( thereof, of po%er behind the " Authority has a greater chance of influencing

Campbell 2

others in the long run, and has a greater chance of positive results" *o%er results, but is ore the result of threat than fro

ay also produce

a genuine desire to reciprocate trust to one the

individual feels deserves it" The essence of leadership is authority, grounded in trust" In short, the foundation of leadership is the ability to separate needs fro %ants, and act

accordingly" )nce one learns this s(ill, and begins to apply it earnestly and consistently, one has effectively beco e a leader - regardless of the po%er granted by others" )nly ones follo%ers ay consider one a leader, and that authority ay be granted by no an short of ones self"