In my opinion Servant Leadership has been superseded because we are living in such a complex world. Even though Servant Leadership has many excellent characteristics very valid today, leaders should not be "servant to" but an "integral part of". Leading in complexity requires Transpersonal Leadership - leading beyond the ego - with all stakeholders in mind, not just those the leader is directly responsible for. It also requires delegation and devolvement of leadership - letting go(!), moving away from hierarchy and trusting the experts at the sharp end to make decisions.
Have a look at our book: Leading Beyond the Ego: How to Become a Transpersonal Leader which is summarised in my ResearchGate lab or go to https://www.leadershapeglobal.com/lbte-second-edition
In my opinion, while Servant Leadership continues to offer valuable insights, today's dynamic and rapidly evolving organizational environments often require more adaptive and informal leadership frameworks. That's why I believe Emergent Leadership deserves attention. Unlike formal leadership models, emergent leadership captures how leadership naturally arises in response to group needs, without relying on hierarchical position.
This perspective is especially relevant in contexts where agility, collaboration, and shared influence are essential for effective change and innovation. Emergent leaders are often recognized not by title, but by their ability to inspire trust, encourage participation, and respond effectively to real-time challenges.
Have a look at my article on Emergent Leadership and Change Effectiveness, which is available on my ResearchGate profile. I'd be happy to exchange thoughts further if this resonates with your research direction.
Article Literature review of the relationship between emergent leade...
Rahma Messalti - I think we are on the same wavelength. Emergent or Evolving leadership is the way forward. Transpersonal Leadership is what individuals need to attain in order to create emergent leadership across organisations and society.
John Knights - Thank you! I completely agree — it's encouraging to see alignment in our perspectives. Indeed, Emergent Leadership can thrive in environments where individuals have developed the self-awareness and emotional maturity associated with Transpersonal Leadership.
In fact, I see Transpersonal Leadership as providing the internal foundation, while Emergent Leadership reflects how that maturity manifests organically in group dynamics — especially in non-hierarchical, agile contexts.
This intersection between the intrapersonal and interpersonal is, I believe, essential for navigating today’s organizational challenges. I look forward to exploring more about this relationship — and I’d welcome your insights on my article about Emergent Leadership and Change Effectiveness, available on my ResearchGate profile.
Rahma Messalti - agreed! I will read your article - may take a while as travelling - and respond! Regards
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