Exploring the Way Servant Leaders Foster Employee Development: A Qualitative Study of Servant Leaders in Non-Profit Organizations

Abstract

The literature on servant leadership in third sector organizations is in dire need of further research for documenting the developmental effects of servant leadership on employees in non-profit organizations (Schneider & George, 2011). The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how servant leaders in non-profit organizations perceived their role cultivating their employees’ personal and professional development. The population under investigation constituted six Saskatchewan executive directors and managers, who worked for non-profit organizations, had more than 10 years experience in leadership roles, and identified as servant leaders within that timeframe. A modified van Kaam method utilized a servant leadership questionnaire, as well openended and semi-structured online and telephone interview questions for collecting data on the lived experiences of the servant leaders (Moustakas, 1994). The results of this study revealed the participants perceived servant leadership as beneficial to employee development in non-profit organizations, particularly at these times when these organisations have limited training and development budgets. Moreover, servant leaders in non-profit organizations were found to cultivate their employees’ development through the creation of positive learning environments, build community through modelling of collaboration and commitment, and exhibit stewardship by enhancing employees’ growth through effectively managing organizational resources whether internal or external to the organization. The participants noted numerous obstacles to effective servant leadership practices, such as abandoning their servant leadership convictions in moments of organizational crises, being taken seriously by nonpracticing servant leaders (such as transactional leaders), and that servant leadership is not conducive to the cold-hearted aspect of business. The study concludes with some recommendations for best practice, and offers some suggestions for further research.