LE3 .A278 2018

2018

Sweatman, Mary

Acadia University

Bachelor of Community Development

Honours

Community Development

Community Development

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of servant-leadership within the context of a western, Consumer-driven society. This research focused on ten participants identified as servant-leaders within their community, and who self-identified with the philosophy or qualities of servant-leadership. Before the interview process, literature related to leadership, personal values and money’s effect on happiness were reviewed. After conducting in-depth interviews with each of the participants, it was found that servant-leaders focus heavily on their own personal values and encompass a number of different styles of leadership within their own philosophies. All the participants believed that empowering followers to grow as human beings is a central role in their lives and organizational results can be a by-product of this growth. Finally, the participants did understand the necessity of money in today’s society, however most of the participants did not allow money to influence their own definition of wealth or success. Rather, family and loved ones were the participants’ main sources of wealth, and success was based on life satisfaction, altruistic giving and happiness.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2681