Page 67 - Harnessing the Strengths

50 ■ Servant-Leadership in the Intercultural Practice

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Figure 5.2 Servant-leader pyramid

Master Versus Servant

For many people, serving has a much more negative connota-
tion than leading, as it is associated with submission. This is
a misconception. A servant-leader is certainly not a carpet to
be walked all over. However, you can come to the conclusion
that servant-leadership is a seemingly contradictory concept.
Take a look at Figure 5.2. Is the servant-leader at the bot-
tom of a deep shaft, or at the top of a reversed pyramid? The
answer is: both. The leader has turned the organizational hier-
archy around completely and serves subordinates as if they
were the leader’s superiors. Leaders who serve those “below”
them set an example for their employees as to how they can
serve the clients. If a leader does not enjoy serving others, why
should the employees enjoy it? Servant-leaders try to give their
status away in order to get it back with interest. The more you
serve, the more you lead.