Identification and Measurement of Servant Leadership in Early Childhood: Parent Perspectives

Identification and Measurement of Servant Leadership in Early Childhood: Parent Perspectives

Aderonke Kujore Adelekan | 2019

Abstract

Considering the notion posited by the grandfather of servant leadership that leadership traits were found in children as early as preschool, this study set out to identify and measure servant leadership scientifically in early childhood, as defined by the Division for Early Childhood and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, using parent perspectives. The study was based on an adaptation of the Servant Leadership Behavioral Scale because of its reliability above other servant leadership instruments. As part of the study, parents had a chance to rate their children using a 32-item Likert like scale. The results were analyzed, which resulted in a 10-item, two-factor scale that identified and measured ethical transforming influence and a call to service in children ages 4 through 8. This study was particularly significant because although leaders spent billions of dollars on leadership development, there continued to be a lack of ethical, caring, and effective leaders globally. The study was the first to consider the identification and measurement of servant leadership in early childhood for developing leadership during the most developmentally active stage of an individual’s life. The study had some shortcomings that limited its reliability and generalizability. Some of the shortcomings included the sample size and sample demographics, which although minimally enough, carried opportunities to strengthen the research. The study suggested additional research for validation and generalization, and it proposed leveraging this work for the development of more ethical, caring, and effective leadership.