Antecedents and consequences of servant leadership in local governance: Evidence from three case studies

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Awasthi, Pallavi; Walumbwa, Fred O.
• 署名单位: Nova Southeastern University; State University System of Florida; Florida International University
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/puar.13552
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 1077-1094
• 关键词: organizational citizenship behavior; public-service motivation; ETHICAL LEADERSHIP; contemporary challenges; self; performance; POLICY; perceptions; COMMITMENT; employees

摘要

Although servant leadership has emerged as an important community-oriented leadership approach that is desirable for public organizations, relatively less research attention has been devoted to understanding its antecedents as well as its organizational and community-level consequences. Drawing on self-categorization and stakeholder theories, this study investigates the antecedents and consequences of servant leadership in local government agencies using a comparative analysis of three case studies (two counties and a city). Findings highlight two frameworks of antecedents and consequences of servant leadership in local governance: (1) the underlying mechanisms-translating antecedents into servant leadership and (2) the intervening mechanisms-translating as organizational and community-level consequences of servant leadership. These findings have implications for both public sector leadership theory and practice. Theoretically, servant leadership emerges as an inclusive approach that fosters stakeholder engagement and community prosperity in local governments. Practically, the findings suggest a pathway for utilizing servant leadership as an instrument for potential selection, training, succession planning, and servant leadership development in local government managers. Evidence for practice Antecedents such as servant identity and moral potency are vital to develop local government managers and employees as servant leaders. Servant leadership framework for local governance consists of five dimensions: (1) empathy and concern for people, (2) behaving ethically, (3) conceptual skills, (4) creating value for the community, and (5) follower centric dimensions- putting subordinates first, empowerment, and helping subordinates grow and succeed. Servant leaders utilize listening, communication, and negotiation to achieve organizational and community service goals in local government organizations. Servant leadership is a community focused approach which is inclusive to the interests and concerns of both internal as well as external stakeholders in local government organizations. This results in building trust and sustainable partnerships with stakeholders and overall community well-being and prosperity.