Servant Leadership Style: A Key to Effective Good Governance and Sustainable Public Service Delivery in Africa

Abstract

This paper reviewed and examined works of literature on leaderships styles, with a focus on servant leadership that reflects to be a key approach to enforcing and executing effective public administration, good governance, achie- vable policies, and sustainable public service delivery in Africa. Ethical leadership, service orientation, sustainable development, accountability, transparency, prioritizing the needs and well-being of others, etc., are among several key components of the main frame of servant leadership that can engender effective good governance and sustainable public service delivery in Africa. It’s significant to recognise that Africa still remains poor and fragile in terms of strengthening public administration, good governance, implementing public policies and ensuring sustainable public service delivery. It’s also unimaginable to observe the best practice of servant leadership style in a poor and fragile public administration and public policy environment. Africa is a diverse continent with a wide range of cultures, traditions, and social norms, so the effectiveness of servant leadership can vary from one country to another. While Servant leadership can be mirrored as a valuable approach for effective good governance and sustainable public service delivery in developed countries, most African countries are facing several challenges when endeavouring to practice or implement servant leadership style. Until today, many African citizens are experiencing a lifetime history of authoritarian leadership style, where leaders are exerting a strong control and authority over their inhabitants. Unfortunately, servant leadership, with its emphasis on collaboration and empowerment of citizens, most often clashes with authoritarian and traditional norms, making it difficult for emerging democratic leaders to adopt and practice efficiently this approach. As the authoritarian leadership and traditions influence strongly political and socio-eco- nomic governance in Africa, emerging democratic leaders with limited resources including financial and human resources are facing challenges to implement servant leadership style and to address the basic needs of their followers. This paper suggests an approach or tools that could reinforce the confidence of emerging democratic leaders to workout efficiently and effectively servant leadership style in the continent.