More than ever leaders are under intense scrutiny and pressure to bring their organizations to a level of innovation and performance within this challenging global economy and marketplace. In responding to the burdens on leaders and organizations, there is a growing need for models of leadership with more than one leader at the helm. This post introduces transformational servant leadership that blends two well recognized styles of leaders to meet today’s demands for leadership.

In working with thousands of leaders in hundreds of organizations, I’m finding that healthy and innovative leaders balance two things: vision and care. Transformational servant leadership does both. These leaders “cast a collaborative moral vision while actively caring for those participating in moving the vision to reality” (Parolini, 2012). These leaders don’t zoom ahead while leaving others in their wake. They understand this really doesn’t accomplish any kind of consistent movement at all. They also don’t serve an end goal of solely caring for people without spurring the team on to greater accomplishments. There is a balance with transformational servant leaders between moving ahead and nurturing the people who are bringing about the movement.

Questions for interaction:

Have you experienced a leader who you felt both spurred you on to a greater vision and cared for you along the way, truly cared? Or have you experienced a leader who is good at one yet not so good at the other (example: had a great vision yet little concern for people or had great concern for people yet little overall direction)? What has your experience been like?

Next, read and respond to Part 2 to take this concept deeper by looking at real life examples.