Servant Leadership Case Solution

2. Leader-Member Exchange Theory

The leader-member exchange theory highlights that the relationship between a leader and member is a two-way dynamic relationship that consists of various exchanges between the two parties. The quality of these relationships impacts the productivity and performance of the followers or members. The relationship is based on trust and respect whereby the leaders provide support and mentoring to the followers to which followers in return deliver and achieve goals and objectives (Lunenberg, 2010). Servant leadership requires several motivational and behavioral approaches to model servant leadership to which the leader-member exchange is integral. Motivation-to-serve and servant leadership are positively connected to servant leadership through the cognitive dissonance theory and the social consistency theory that further reflects on the motivation-to-serve and motivation-to-lead. This in turn draws from the concepts of leader-member exchange and forms a basis for the theoretical reasoning behind servant leadership. The primary motive for servant leadership is to serve the subordinated and the followers for which understanding of the leader-member exchange theory is crucial (Yildiz & Yildiz, 2016).

3. Motivation to Serve

Greenleaf (1977) outlined that motivation to serve forms a basis on which motivation to lead surfaces. Alternatively, a motivation to lead would also eventually result in a motivation to serve. The motivation comes from the interest and the existence of empathy for other people and this personality trait forms an important element of the servant leadership traits and characteristics. The motivational state to serve as a leader results in followers experiencing a higher leader-member exchange. From a leadership standpoint certain personality characteristics are crucial to be a successful leader. Amongst these include self-determination, moral cognitive development and cognitive complexity. Self-determination arises from three basic psychological needs, one being feeling connected to others which gives way to the motivation to serve. In moral cognitive development, the highest stage, i.e. stage six includes mutual respect that becomes a universal guiding principle. Lastly, cognitive complexity allows for a more accurate judgement on social situations and the understanding to act in a specific manner towards them (Witteloostujin, Esteve, & Boyne, 2016).