Learning to Lead

Learning to Lead – Observations of Servant Leadership in the Real World

Brian O’Rear | 2020

Abstract

This book examines eight characteristics and behaviors of Servant Leadership through vignettes of real-life scenarios I have observed as either a leader or a follower. The characteristics and behaviors include the following:

1. Empathy
2. Putting others first
3. Empowering
4. Conceptualization and casting a vision
5. Healing and extending grace
6. Creating, building, and adding value to community
7. Ethical leadership
8. Helping followers grow and succeed

Each vignette offers clear lessons, and the book seeks to draw out those instructive lessons as they relate to servant leadership. Rather than confining the illustrative stories to a narrow timeframe or leadership position, I examine experiences that stretch across several decades and multiple organizations and diverse groups, including military, sports, and small business applications. The principles are universal. The book creates reflective opportunities for readers to understand, internalize, and apply principles from servant leadership to real-world scenarios.

Keywords: servant-leadership, empathy, empower, vision, ethics