Summarize your leadership practicum in relation to the seven distinct characteristics outlined in the textbook. How will you change your behavior based on this new understanding of servant leadership? What strategies did you learn that, if implemented, would allow you to actualize the servant leadership principles in a leadership role?

This is the textbook
DelHousaye, D., & Brewer, B. (2004). Servant leadership: The seven distinctive characteristics of a servant leader. Scottsdale, AZ: SBC Press. ISBN-13: 9780972432818

Seven Distinctive Principles
Issue of Power
Issue of Authority
Issue of Rule
Issue of Headship
Issue of Example
Issue of Serving
Issue of Humility

Place your order today!

Solution

Discussion Question

The leadership practicum was conducted at the NYC Department of Health, situated within the Office of School Health.  Ideally, participation in the program provided me with meaningful opportunities to exercise servant leadership in the management of students with Asthma in the school setting.  As a leadership philosophy, servant leadership is largely concerned with the attainment of set results through identifying and responding to the distinct needs, demands and expectations of the followers (DelHousaye & Brewer, 2004). Considering my eminent position as a nurse leader, my practicum experience would help to inspire a positive change of behavior in favor of increased empathy, humility, compassion and respect for others. Whilst the nurse leader is expected to demonstrate authority, servanthood,  and headship in his/her nursing leadership engagements, servant leadership emphasizes the centrality of shared vision and goals, teamwork and collaborating with school administration in identifying problems (e.g. poor asthma medication adherence) and adopting tailored solutions (adherence to DOH protocols) to them. Participating in the leadership practicum would allow me to not only focus on becoming a high performer and a role model to others but also a servant leader committed to empowering people (through training) to become meaningful, productive and innovative agents of change (Davis, 2017). Therefore, changing my behavior based on this new understanding requires me to know more about myself, and to commit to exercising the seven distinctive principles of servant leadership in my professional and occupational life.

With regards to strategies, actualizing the servant leadership principles in a leadership role would necessitate the genuine empowerment and development of people through providing them with relevant resources, systems, tools and strategies to become successful. Consequently, the nurse leader engaged in servanthood must also demonstrate a good deal of humility by recognizing and acknowledging the contributions of others to a particular program and/or project (DelHousaye & Brewer, 2004). Exercising stewardship through creating a solid, shared vision is also another practical strategy for enabling the followers to gain a better understanding of the short- and long-term goals, and ways of achieving them. Moreover, the servant leader must also remain authentic, and committed to guiding his/her followers toward attainment of realistic and measurable goals and expectations within the stipulated duration (Davis, 2017).

References

Davis, N. (2017). Review of followership theory and servant leadership theory: Understanding how servant leadership informs followership. Servant Leadership and Followership, 207-223. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59366-1_9

DelHousaye, D., & Brewer, B. (2004). Servant leadership: The seven distinctive characteristics of a servant leader. Scottsdale, AZ: SBC Press. ISBN-13: 9780972432818