Servant Leadership in Educational Administration During Times of Change

Abstract

In an era where the world is facing rapid and complex changes, Servant Leadership has gained attention as a leadership model with the potential to sustainably manage organizations, especially in the context of educational administration. The concept of servant leadership emphasizes serving others before oneself, focusing on the development of followers’ potential, fostering collaboration, and cultivating an organizational culture grounded in ethics and morality. This approach stands in contrast to authoritarian leadership, yet numerous studies have confirmed its positive impact on job satisfaction, motivation, and organizational commitment among educational personnel. In the school context, servant leaders play a crucial role in promoting positive relationships, supporting the growth of teachers and students, and creating a learning-centered environment. They embody key characteristics such as listening, empathy, awareness, and vision. Moreover, servant leadership aligns well with educational administration in the age of transformation, which emphasizes flexibility, innovation, and inclusive participation from all stakeholders. It is also connected with change management theories such as those proposed by Lewin, Kotter, Fullan, and the ADKAR model—all of which highlight ethical, participatory, and sustainable approaches to change. In summary, servant leadership is a valuable management approach—both ethically and effectively—that can be applied to enhance the quality of education in times of transformation.