SERVANT LEADERSHIP PRACTICE AND ITS CORRELATION WITH EMPLOYEE JOB SATISFACTION: THE CASE OF COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Though the modern study of servant leadership may be traced to the revolutionary work of Greenleaf in late 20th, the concept of servant leadership can be traced back to the 4th century (B.C.). The servant leadership model as proposed by Robert Greenleaf seems suitable to providing employees with the empowerment and participatory job features that are related to both employee and customer satisfaction. Though there are considerable studies in the area of servant leadership globally, little or no literature is available in this particular area in Ethiopian context. The level and relationship of practice of servant leadership and employee job satisfaction was assessed using online questionnaire survey and structured interview in Compassion International in Ethiopia. The study involved all professional employees including senior and middle level leadership/management of the organization. Descriptive statistics including correlation and Chi-Square was employed to analyze the quantitative data collected. The findings from both quantitative and qualitative data analysis indicated that servant leadership style is practiced well at the organization and the organization is categorized as servant-oriented organization based on the Organizational Leadership Assessment (OLA) tool. Moreover, it seems that the level of employee job satisfaction of the organization is very high (94%) and it is exemplary for other likeminded organizations. Based on the correlation coefficient analysis finding, the relationship of job satisfaction with the overall practice of servant leadership style and that of the five dimensions of servant leadership was positive. In addition, the various independent variables such as respondents’ organizational position, department, sex, service of year and age had significant associations with employee job satisfaction and the level of practice of servant leadership dimensions (with one or more of them). Finally, it was concluded that the leadership of this organization has proven and set the example of the prospect of practice of servant leadership in Ethiopia.