Transparency is a significant attribute of stewardship, particularly in the realm of academia. Academic stewards prioritize open and honest practices when it comes to their decision-making procedures and consistently engage with stakeholders to communicate resource allocation and utilization. By embracing transparency, these stewards foster trust and guarantee that all involved
parties feel included and well-informed.
Stewards in the academic realm also demonstrate a profound level of responsibility and liability. They deeply internalize their actions and willingly embrace the consequences, regardless of their outcome (Kenton, 2023). In addition, they actively learn from their experiences, persistently pursuing avenues for enhancement and personal development.
Both servant leadership and stewardship share several common characteristics. They are both rooted in the belief that leadership is a service to others, rather than a position of power. Both approaches emphasize the importance of ethical behavior and the establishment of strong relationships based on trust and mutual respect
aspects (Canavesi & Minelli, 2022). Additionally,
both servant leaders and stewards are characterized by their commitment to the well-being of their followers and society. In summary, servant leadership and stewardship offer valuable models for effective leadership within the academic domain. The attributes explored in this paper, such as empathy, humility, ethicality, long-term vision, transparency, and accountability, are crucial for leaders to exemplify.
When leaders embrace these qualities, they can establish organizations that are both positive and sustainable, prioritizing the well-being of others while responsibly managing available resources.
Matthew 20:26-28 states "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (NIB,2011). References
Canavesi, A., & Minelli, E. (2022, October 16). Servant leadership and employee engagement: A
qualitative study
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. youthleadershipfdn. https://www.helpingkids.org/single-post/humility-servant-leadership Kenton, W. (2023, August 23). Servant leadership: Characteristics, Pros & Cons, example
. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/servant-leadership.asp New International Bible. (2011). The NIV Bible. https://www.thenivbible.com/ (Original work published 1978)
White, S. K. (2022, February 28). What is servant leadership? A philosophy for people-first leadership
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