Introduction
Success in any career sometimes requires more than just hard work. It calls for having a personal and professional growth plan to act as a compass. As a student affairs professional, having a personal and professional growth plan is what I need to guide me toward becoming a servant leader. Growth in servant leadership entails working toward prioritizing teams’ interests, caring for them, and involving them in decision-making (Setyaningrum et al., 2020). I need to establish a personal and professional growth plan to improve areas of personal development that will help me to master the qualities of servant leadership and also guide students in their own growth and self-exploration.
Kindness and Compassion
Although kindness and compassion in leadership have often been associated with weakness, the work of some of the world’s great leaders in history who were known to apply servant leadership may disagree since their kindness and compassion continue to inspire millions across the globe. That is the same way I plan to use kindness and compassion. According to Trzeciak et al. (2023), when leaders focus on caring for those in their charge inspires organizational support, loyalty, and trust. I, therefore, plan to help students recognize their unique talents as they go through their studies. The campus setup often requires students to meet expected standards regardless of their cognitive abilities. Standardized performance should not be used as proof that the students did not acquire the knowledge or skills. Therefore instead of advocating for punishment, I will push for paying close attention to students’ abilities and advice them accordingly. I will also work on establishing a supportive environment for the diverse community. Although campus setups have students from different backgrounds, the programs and environments sometimes promote inequality. I will therefore ensure that the campus administers a variety of programs and supports a nurturing environment so that all student needs are catered for. I also plan on showing the students and my colleagues to make them feel appreciated for their effort. Life on campus can be challenging, but the fact that they manage to maintain a harmonious environment most of the time. I will therefore be open to complimenting them and take challenges with a positive attitude.
Self-Reflection to Develop the Character of Servant Leadership
Being a servant leader requires a certain set of characteristics that allows one to be a servant first. According to Setyaningrum et al. (2020), these characteristics help a leader build a relationship with teams that is based on humanity, openness, courage, and extensive thinking. Acquiring the characteristics of a servant leader will require self-reflection to analyze the areas in my personal and professional life that need more attention. First, I will ask myself questions every week to evaluate how I can better my listening skills. Servant leaders listen receptively to what their followers say and don’t say. I will ask myself how I can improve my listening to identify the needs of the students needs and get them to clarify their will. Secondly, I will meditate to become more self-aware. Meditation gives the mind space to discover itself. Servant leadership requires awareness to understand issues relating to ethics, power, and values which make up an essential part of leading campus students. Meditation should enable me to view situations from a holistic view and take appropriate action. I will also start journaling for better foresight. Foresight is one of the essential characteristics of a servant leader, and to become one, journaling will help me reprogram my thoughts and learn from the past what will be best for the campus. Lastly, I will engage in extensive reading. I plan on reading so that I can effectively commit to the growth of the students and the student affairs department as required of a servant leader.
Character, Integrity, and Professional Growth
The characteristics required of a servant leader help a leader model character and demonstrate integrity. It is common for students to be persistent, rude, and sometimes show a lack of respect. However, servant leaders can change this because, according to Neubert et al. (2021), they prioritize their followers’ needs which act as a preventive mechanism to reduce incivility and promote a virtuous climate. I will model character by emphasizing virtues by being a role model and creating a safe space to shape that of the students. Since servant leaders have integrity, I will demonstrate integrity by expressing what I believe and feel and following through with my commitments to build trust with the students and my colleagues. It will also be fulfilling to watch the students graduate and pursue various careers. After helping the student identify their unique abilities, I will provide extensive materials on available opportunities in various fields.
Professional Practices in Higher Education Student Affairs
The plan will not be complete without understanding the ethical professional practices in higher education student affairs. As I progress in my career, I will need to ensure I act with integrity and communicate effectively while maintaining confidentiality. I will also need to enroll in continuous learning for competency and work on promoting inclusivity for the diverse student community. I will need to treat people with dignity and respect.
Conclusion
My personal and professional growth plan entails growing my student affairs profession to become a servant leader. The plan entails leading with kindness and compassion, self-reflecting to acquire the required character, model it, and improve ethical professional practices.
Reference
Neubert, M. J., Hunter, E. M., & Tolentino, R. C. (2021). Modeling Character: Servant Leaders, Incivility and Patient Outcomes. Journal of Business Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04783-7
Setyaningrum, R. P., Setiawan, M., Surachman, & Irawanto, D. W. (2020). Servant Leadership Characteristics, Organisational Commitment, Followers’ Trust, Employees’ Performance Outcomes: A Literature Review. EUROPEAN RESEARCH STUDIES JOURNAL, XXIII(Issue 4), 902–911. https://doi.org/10.35808/ersj/1722
Trzeciak, S., Mazzarelli, A., & Seppälä, E. (2023, February 27). Leading with Compassion Has Research-Backed Benefits. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/02/leading-with-compassion-has-research-backed-benefits
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