Servant Leadership: A Critical Analysis

This assignment requires a critical analysis of instruments used to measure servant leadership. Students must examine various measures, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and analyze the findings associated with these instruments. The focus should be on understanding how these tools contribute to our understanding of servant leadership and its practical implications.

Leadership Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
PART 2............................................................................................................................................3
PART 3 ........................................................................................................................................10
.......................................................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
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PART 1
Introduction
The present case study is based on the Martin Luther Kind as servant leader. The main porpose
of this case study is to provide detailed information regrading to servant leadership and use of its
modern society. Leadership means to lead or guide other individuals, teams or entire
organization. It is an essential part of effective management (Barbuto, and Gottfredson, 2016.)
The present report is based on the servant leadership and its main is to define concept of it in
context with Martin Luther King. It is both a philosophy and leadership practices. Primary focus
of servant leadership is on the growth and well being of people along with communities. On the
other hand traditional leadership involves leading people. Servant leadership is different from
other concept. People who follow this type of leadership generally focuses sharing power and put
the need of other first (Chiniara and Bentein, 2016). They also help other people for their
development and perform as high as possible. Martin Luther King is good example of servant
leadership. He was an American minister and leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He did many
things and best known for bring greater equality to America and ensure civil right for all people
regardless of race. He is also considered as the most authentic leader. It is that type of leader who
focus on building strong relationship with their followers and build ethical foundation.
Martin Luther King is strong follower of the authentic leader, which builds strong
relationship in society (Duffy, 2016). The present case study is based on the servant leadership.
This case study describes the concept of leadership and how it effects the whole society. It also
makes analysis of different aspects of servant leadership and use of this leadership. Critical part
of this case study is discussed the pro and cons of authentic leadership and the ways its effects
Martin Luther King.
PART 2
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is the objective analysis of facts to from a judgement. It is process I
which an individual thinking logical, rational and make unbiased decision. This process helps to
leader to take effective decision.
Authors view
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Different authors have describes critical thinking in different aspects such as Richard paul
that is clear, rational thinking involving critique. Its details vary amongst those who define it.
According to Barry K. Beyer critical thinking means making clear, reasoned judgements. During
the process of critical thinking, ideas should be reasoned, well thought out, and judged.
 Stairway process of Critical Thinking
With the help of this framework, an individual can develop its critical thinking approach
and development arguments and conclusion. This framework helps individual for improving
their leadership skills and develop their critical thinking (Eden, 2016). Different writer presents
their different view on the stairway's process. Some of them belies that this process is not
developed critical thinking of an individual (VanMeter, and et.al., 2016). As per, them this
process is not provide the correct information regarding to then critical thinking's. There is lack
of proper knowledge and also experience. Some of them explains that this process is helps to an
individual for developing its own critical thinking's and helps to them for the making their
business information more useful.
The process consists many steps, which are described below.
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Illustration 1 Stairway's crtically thinking process
sources: (https://learn1.open.ac.uk/mod/oublog/viewpost.php?post=178090)
Understand: Before making any conclusion, for an individual it is important to understand the
key points of information and for supporting assumptions need to present evidences (Grisaffe,
VanMeter and Chonko, 2016). This process includes different aspects, which a leader considers
as the different types of theory and use of framework. The Martin Luther king is always focuses
on the understanding the what people want and fight for them.
Analysis: At this stage, persons need to develop understanding and make analysis of data and
then concluded a decision (Lehman, 2016). It also means the ability of separating information,
ideas and then down into components. With the help of this content, they retrieved each and
every information in correct way and develop interrelationship with theory.
Compare: For developing a critical approach, individual needs to explore similarities and
dissimilarities in between their own prescription and the information what they received. It is
also considered as understanding the basic information and then translating it (Liden, and et.al.,
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2016). For developing critical thinking, it is important of the leaders to make comparison of the
information and their own analysis so they can make corrects decisions.
Synthesize: At this process an individual need to gather information and need to drive a logical
connection in between its own ideas and information what he receives from different sources.
This will helps to them for developing a critical thinking (Liden, Stouten, and Zhong 2016). For
a good leader, it is important to gather information from different sources so they he/ she
receives authentic ones regarding to their work and can easily develop a logical relationship.
Evaluate: Persons need to make relevance of its ideas in term of their own needs, the evidences
on which it is based and how it relates to other pertinent ideas (McCarren, and, et.al., 2016). For
developing critical thinking, it is important to make evaluation of information and also develop
the ways to use this information in order to the make effective decision.
Apply: For developing a critical thinking, an individual need to exchange their ideas and ask
various types of questions for assignment and project (Michel, and Wayne, 2016). Leaders need
to ask to their followers different types of queries which are related to their own projects so they
can understand their problems and make correct use of it.
Justify: Individual needs to develop arguments, draw conclusion, make inferences and identity
implications. Leaders need to give clear information regarding the decisions which are taken by
them and draw conclusion so the can make better relations with their workers.
As according to, the Kate Williams is an approach which assist to leaders of organization
for development of their professional aptitudes. As per Kate Williams, thinking critically make
an individual Fully informed, capable of supporting in-depth analysis and assessment of its own
capabilities.
Comparing and contrasting Bloom theory to stairway process
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Stairway process theory is based more on educator's and psychologists. This theory used by
many audiences. Bloom theory based on more authentic tools for such as planning, instructional
delivery and assessment. Contrasting in between this two theory is also in their terminology.
Stairway's process is use noun to describing level of thinking. On the other hand Bloom theroy
use verb to describe level of thinking. The main comparing thing in between in this two theory is
that both focuses on hierarchically structures
Martin Luther king
Key points
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Illustration 2: Bloom's Taxonomy's
Source: (https://learn1.open.ac.uk/mod/oublog/viewpost.php?post=178090)

In 1955, he helped southern Christian leadership.
In 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany, Georgia.
In 1963, he gave famous speech I have dream.
In october 14, 1964, king received the Nobel peace prize for fighting against racial inequality.
1965, he helped to organize the Selma to Montgomery marche
Martin Luther king was an American Baptist minister and activist who was a leader in the
Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using
non violent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. Kind was become a civil rights
activities in his career. He did many good work in American society. 1955, he helped the
southern Christian leadership and in 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany, Georgia.in
1963 , March on Washington, where he gave his famous speech “I Have a Dream”
In october 14, 1964, king received the Nobel peace prize for fighting against racial
inequality through non violent resistance. In 1965, he helped to organize the Selma to
Montgomery marches, and the following year he and SCLC took the movement north to Chicago
to work on segregated housing. In the last year of life king was focusing on the towards poverty
and Vietnam war. King sacrifice its whole life for working towards equality and provide equal
rights to all black American. He conducted many programs in USA, which aim to provide
equally rights in society to everyone. King was awarded by presidential medal of freedom and
congressional gold medal.
PART 3
Embedded Essay
 Servant leadership- A servant leader is defined as the person who offers an inclusive
vision, listen others carefully and helps society with its leadership. All these, describes
Martin Luther King perfectly. The stairway's process is also says that servant leader
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should focuses gain compete information and make analysis on it. Martin Luther king is
also focused on the understanding the information and then make decisions. 1
Definition of servant leadership
According to the Greenleaf "the servant-leader is servant first” it means by this he
means to say that servant leader should think first to their followers and then about himself.
Greenleaf also said that servant-leader is A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and
well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership
generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,
Figure 3: Key characteristics of servant leadership
(Source: Mahembe and et.al., 2013)
The concept of servant leadership is based on the idea that a leader need to focus serving
their employees first and then need to focus on their own interest. This leadership consisted the
idea that a leader need to focus on sharing power and puts the need of others first (Yan and Xiao,
2016). Aim of this leadership theory is lead to higher engagement, more trust, and stronger
relationships with team members and other stakeholders. It can also lead to increased innovation.
Following are characteristics of the servant leadership:
1 (Grisaffe, D.B., VanMeter, R. and Chonko, L.B., 2016. Serving first for the benefit of others: preliminary
evidence for a hierarchical conceptualization of servant leadership. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales
Management.36(1). pp.40-58.)
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Listening: The main characteristic of the servant leadership is that they are deeply connected
with to listening and understanding what other people are trying to saying (Liden, Stouten, and
Zhong 2016). Martin Luther King is good listener as he was always focuses on other people's
opinions and asked opinions from their subordinated.
Empathy: Servant leader, it should be open-minded and ready to adopt others people views.
Martin Luther King is always focuses on empathy and valuing others perspective and
approaching. He always thinks about people first and then about himself.
Healing: It involves that servant leader need to consider the emotional health and wholeness of
people and involve their contribution both physically and mentally.
Awareness: A servant leader is always focused on developing self-awareness. Martin Luther
King always focuses on building awareness and brings together all people (Barbuto, and
Gottfredson, 2016). The servant leader focuses on developing their strengths and weakness and
asks to other people for their suggestions along with this they learn to manage their emotions so
they can manage their actions.2
Persuasion: Servant leader use persuasion rather than authority. They encourage people to take
actions and build consensus in groups (Liden, Stouten, and Zhong 2016). For example, Martin
Luther King who empowered to other people so they can fight for their rights.
Conceptualization: The concept is based on the idea that servant leader is always focuses on long
term visions and develop such strategy to achieve their targets.
Foresight: The ability to predict what is coming based on what is occurring in the present and
what has happened in the past.
Stewardship: It means to manage people in organization and holding their trust along with
maintained long-term relations with its followers.
2 (Liden, and et.al., 2016. The influence of CEO values and leadership on middle manager exchange behaviors: a
longitudinal multilevel examination. Nankai Business Review International. 7(1). pp.2-20)
10

Commitment to the growth of people: The servant leader needs to take care of its each followers
and follow with intrinsic value beyond what he/ she contributed to the organization.
Building community: The servant leader need to allow to other people to identify with something
grate so they can value themselves.
The impact of servant leadership on organizations is that by applying this theory their
worker's performances get improve and also with the help of this leadership their financial
performances is also improved (Lehman, 2016). Before applying this theory, organization is
facing many problems such as they are not able to retain their workers for long term. With the
help of this leadership, workers of the firm get engaged with entity's activities and also focus on
developing long term relationship with them. The stairway's process is also suggested that for
becoming a good leader need to possses some skills and characteristic.
Critically evaluation of servant leadership
The aforementioned qualities of servant leadership are essential for effectively
implementing the strategies and decisions over the people who are following the leader. Empathy
is quite beneficial in some aspects. It helps in creating a better bond with the followers.
However, it can turn out to be fatal when individuals take advantage of the leader. On the
contrary, awareness and persuasion help in building an effective workable path. When blended
with stewardship, the servant leader will be able to take more efficient decisions.
Inspirational characteristic of Martin Luther King
There are many characteristics which are possessed by Martin Luther King. He fight for
the equal rights. The main characteristic of King which inspired people is determination. His
showed determination by never giving up the on his for equal rights3 for everyone and trying to
end segregation for all Americans. He showed loyalty by continuing to fight for his beliefs even
3 (Barbuto, J.E. and Gottfredson, R.K., 2016. Human Capital, the Millennial's Reign, and the Need For Servant
Leadership. Journal of Leadership Studies. 10(2). pp.59-63.)
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after he was arrests and attacks by many times. Many people have learn lessons from King but
the most inspirational characteristic which make him is great leader is only determination.
Empowerment on Martin Luther King
The for e most characteristic of Martin Luther King is empowerment. King is always belives to
empowerment this is only reason that he fights for the many people who are facing in equality in
their life. He always empoerment to many people so they can fight for their own rights and get
justice. King empwerment is mainly based on fight for in justice which he did over his life. King
empowerment's characteristic is trust on free thinking. So he always inspired to people for taking
their own decisions.
Integrity of Martin Luther King
He was an American minister and activists who was leader in the civil rights movement.
He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil
disobedience based on his Christian beliefs (Chiniara and Bentein, 2016). He was a man who
served the people and does not care about the outcomes. He always followed his mind with
anything he did. He is true servant leader. King is known for its work, which he did during the
civil movement.
He is considered as servant leader because he work for the communities and fight for the
rights of African – American people (Grisaffe, VanMeter, and Chonko, 2016)4. He always to be
good servant leader as his focus is to always serve to society first. He shows great courage during
his lifetime and always fights for equal rights.
Martin Luther king is also considered as the authentic leader; he always worked for the
society and focused on building strong relationship with its follower valuing their inputs and
building ethical foundation (Liden, Stouten, and Zhong 2016). This kind of belief helped him
gather positive image in hearts of individuals. Moreover, he was considered as one of the finest
kings of those times because of more concern for his people rather than his personal benefits.
This characteristic is also depicted by transformational leaders.
4 (Grisaffe, D.B., VanMeter, R. and Chonko, L.B., 2016. Serving first for the benefit of others: preliminary
evidence for a hierarchical conceptualization of servant leadership. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales
Management.36(1). pp.40-58.)
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King is true authentic leader as he always worked for the society and equal rights.
However, this leadership also consists some pros and cons which are, describes below:
Pros: This leadership is based on high ethical standards; so with the help of this leadership
eliminating legal and ethical problems can be done. King is always considered as highly ethical
follower as he always worked for the society and generates productivity. He valued to every
human begin and worked with their opinions (Liden, and et.al., 2016.). This leadership allows
collaborative atmosphere where whole society worked in a single direction.
Cons: The major cons of this leadership, is that it always promotes and focus only on progress.
Under this leadership, leaders need to learn and respect other people's value. In a society there
are different types of people who possess their own abilities and ideas (McCarren, and, et.al.,
2016). The authentic leader always follows its own opinions so sometime it creates problems to
rely too much upon morality and authenticity.
This leadership is can be use in many organizations. With the help of this leadership
approach, leaders of the entity can fulfill their objectives. The main aim of the authentic leaders
is to be able for reconcile their emotions and their logic (VanMeter, and et.al., 2016). Through
this leadership leaders and manager of entity leads to highly ethical standards in company and
create ethical environment in firm. With authentic leaders, staff members work together in a
team and become more productivity and lead to healthy environment in firm. This leadership
also brings many advantages as well as better working conditions5. The evaluation of this
theory is that they entity is able to produce better working condition to its employees and leads to
effectiveness in their work. The stairway's process is says that leaders should make their thinking
critical so they can take effective decisions.
This leadership brings more transparency motive to the society for carry out the correct
decisions (VanMeter, and et.al., 2016). Leaders of this leadership follows discuss their plans
with their followers and develop effective communications in between them. Authentic leader
focus only on long term vision so its always brings productivity and profitability within firm.
5 (VanMeter, R., Chonko, L.B., Grisaffe, D.B. and Goad, E.A., 2016. In search of clarity on servant leadership:
domain specification and reconceptualization. AMS review. 6(1-2). pp.59-78.)
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They also know the importance of patience in being able to achieve long-term shareholder value
that best benefits the company and its employees.
Written Argument
The case study is based on the servant and authentic leadership. Both the leadership
focuses on developing serving people and based on the high ethical standards. The main aim of
servant theory is to serve their follower first and provides equal rights to everyone in society
(McCarren, and, et.al., 2016). The main aim of authentic leadership is to develop maintain high
standards and also build string relationship with it followers. Both the leadership styles are
worked for the other people interests. For example, Martin Luther King is good example of the
servant leadership who worked to its entire life on the equal rights of African- American people.
The other theory is Authentic leadership which is based on the building strong
relationships with it's their followers (Michel, and Wayne, 2016). In this point, Authentic
leadership always follows their own belief. This created negative impact on the other people
because in team, each members hold their own perceptions so they learn to respect other people
values as well.
For the servant leadership “The Servant as Leader,” not “The Leader as Servant.”
The servant theory is based on the idea that leader had to serve first to its employees
and then itself Servant leader is different from the other types of leaders. The aim of traditional
leaders is to focus on leading group and members but aim of the servant leader is based on the
idea that they have to work for other rights and interest (Liden, Stouten, and Zhong 2016). Their
aim is to fights for the other people's rights and focuses on developing strong relationship with
its followers.
Bass and Avolio's model/Leader Practise
Bass and Avolio provided researches on the leadership aspects especially of the
transformational leadership7. They developed a leadership practise which was full range i.e.
included of transactional, transformational, management by exception active and passive and
7 (Liden, and et.al., 2016. The influence of CEO values and leadership on middle manager exchange behaviors: a
longitudinal multilevel examination. Nankai Business Review International. 7(1). pp.2-20.)
14

laissez-fair leadership. This implies that a person has to inculcate the qualities of all sorts of
leaders specially those mentioned above for gaining proper command over different situations.
Practise
Leadership practise involves practical applications of all sorts of skills and knowledge
that a leader has. For instance, a person may have qualities of transformational leader but they
are applicable in a different manner in practical situations.
Comparison between theory and practise
There is a huge difference between theory and practise. Bass and Avolio's model might
display that no revolt like conditions or errors would occur if a person follows all sorts of
leadership as mentioned in the model. But real-time practise can cause troubles because shifting
leadership attributes sometimes leads to mismanagement and chaos. People get confused
regarding the activities of leader. Theories can be used for supporting the decision making
process in real time
Seminal
The recent research is conducted by the Jim Collins and his team which stated that
servant leadership is considered as the best leadership for every company. As per, the authors,
they are different types of leaderships available which assists entity for building strong
relationships with its followers (McCarren, and, et.al., 2016). As according, to their research
there are many entities in which leaders are following the leaderships styles so they can
understand the problem of others and develop strong relationships with their subordinates.
Another theory, which is conducted by Dr. James Sipe and Dr. Don Frick in which they
stated that for every successful organization servant leadership is considered as key factors as
this leadership is allowed to leader and members to make strong relationships with each other
(VanMeter, and et.al., 2016). The authors suggest that business need to follow this leadership so
they can improve their performance.
Conclusion
From the summing up the above report, it is concluded that Martin Luther King is truly a
servant leader. He fights from the other people's right and was a leader during the Civil Right
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Movement. Concepts of servant leader and use of this theory suggest a leader need to thinks
about its followers and respects their value as well. From the above report, it is also concluded
that there are various organization that use of servant leadership helps to them for improving
their performance along with their profitably. However, there are some consequences as servant
leadership is always followed their own pensions and does not give chances to their followers to
present their ideas. So, servant leader need to provide chances to other people as well so they can
develop long-term relationship with them.
PART 3
Recommendation
The given article helps in identifying the servant leadership and thus assesses the Chicago
Campaign helps in evaluating the servant leadership so that different theories and models could
be implemented upon them. King faces certain challenges related to organization and thus aims
to mobilize Chicago's diverse African American community (Grisaffe, VanMeter and Chonko,
2016). Thus, it is essential for them to fight against violence and thus develop working ability for
working class while the impact is against the housing and neighborhoods. Further, another article
showcases that servant leadership helps in formulating framework in regard to cultivate ongoing
growth as a servant leader (Lehman, 2016). Thus, it helps in bringing change and thus empower
healthy and safe environment within business.
Servant leaders also possess effective features so that empirical study is being carried out
in terms of improving business performance. Carrying out servant leadership helps in influencing
accurate understanding of conceptual thinking and thus helps in carrying out effective process so
that development can be attained (VanMeter, and et.al., 2016). In the current development stage
it helps in improving servant leadership movement and thus provide certain useful challenges,
which helps them to improve their understanding and excellence so that best results can be
attained. This is recommended because this article helps to business houses for understanding
the concept of servant leaderships and their use. With the help of this article entity can build
strong relationships with its workers and also improves their performances.
The Journal- Defining and Measuring Servant Leadership Behaviour in Organizations (Sendjaya
Sarros and Santora, 2008) is recommended for reference so that more information can be
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collected on the techniques and facts regarding servant leadership. Furthermore, another journal
i.e. Servant Leadership: A Quantitative Review of Instruments and Related Findings can be read
for gaining knowledge regarding various findings of servant leadership (Green and et. al., 2015).
Some interesting facts have been defined in the Journal of management regarding the
characteristic features of servant leadership which helps in enlightening the knowledge regarding
this subject (van Dierendonck, 2011).
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Barbuto, J.E. and Gottfredson, R.K., 2016. Human Capital, the Millennial's Reign, and the Need
For Servant Leadership. Journal of Leadership Studies. 10(2). pp.59-63.
Chiniara, M. and Bentein, K., 2016. Linking servant leadership to individual performance:
Differentiating the mediating role of autonomy, competence and relatedness need
satisfaction. The Leadership Quarterly. 27(1). pp.124-141.
Duffy, M., 2016. Gung Ho, Marine! Servant Leadership, Evans Carlson, and the 2nd Marine
Raider Battalion. Servant Leadership. p.89.
Dwyer, B., 2016. Cultivating Dialogue: A Central Imperative for the Study and Practice of
Servant Leadership. Servant Leadership, p.69.
Eden, C., 2016. Rethinking client service: Implementing a servant leadership/choice theory
model within CMHA, Kamloops Branch.
Grisaffe, D.B., VanMeter, R. and Chonko, L.B., 2016. Serving first for the benefit of others:
preliminary evidence for a hierarchical conceptualization of servant leadership. Journal of
Personal Selling & Sales Management.36(1). pp.40-58.
Lehman, D., 2016. A Case Study Describing How Servant Leadership Attributes Impact
Superintendent Longevity and Leadership Styles (Doctoral dissertation).
Liden, and et.al., 2016. The influence of CEO values and leadership on middle manager
exchange behaviors: a longitudinal multilevel examination. Nankai Business Review
International. 7(1). pp.2-20.
Liden, R.C., Stouten, J. and Zhong, M., 2016. It Ain’ t All Sunshine and Lollipops: Servant
Leadership and †Tough Loveâ€.
McCarren, H.S., and, et.al., 2016. Creation of a Multi-Rater Feedback Assessment for the
Development of Servant Leaders at the Veterans Health Administration. Servant Leadership,
p.12.
Michel, E.J. and Wayne, S.J., 2016, January. A Spillover-Crossover Model of Servant Leader
Family Support and Subordinate Family-Work Outcomes. In Academy of Management
Proceedings (Vol. 2016, No. 1, p. 17215). Academy of Management.
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VanMeter, R., Chonko, L.B., Grisaffe, D.B. and Goad, E.A., 2016. In search of clarity on servant
leadership: domain specification and reconceptualization. AMS review. 6(1-2), pp.59-78.
Yan, A. and Xiao, Y., 2016. Servant leadership and employee voice behavior: a cross-level
investigation in China. SpringerPlus. 5(1). p.1595.
Sendjaya, S., Sarros, C. J. and Santora, C. J., 2008. Defining and Measuring Servant Leadership
Behaviour in Organizations .Journal of Management Studies. 45(2). pp. 402–424.
Green, T. M. and et. al., 2015. Servant Leadership: A Quantitative Review of Instruments and
Related Findings. Servant Leadership: Theory and Practice. 2(2). pp. 76-96.
van Dierendonck, 2011. Journal of Management. 1. pp
Online
Mahembe, B. and et.al., 2013. A confirmatory factor analytical study of a servant leadership
measure in South Africa. [Online]. Available Through:
<http://www.sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1127/1377>. [Accessed on 25 March
2017].
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