SERVANT LEADERSHIP ATRRIBUTES AND THE PERCEIVED IMPACT IN A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SETTING

Abstract

Objective of the study: The study sought to investigate the effect of servant leadership tenets and the perceived impact in a community development context. The study identified servant leadership dimensions applied by leaders in the nonprofit sector, establish the level of community development impact achieved in catchment areas by the nonprofit organizations and establish the effect of the identified dimensions on the community development impact achieved by the nonprofit organizations.

Methodology: The study selected 73 non-profit organizations in Nairobi City County with 365 respondents. Explanatory factor analysis was used to extract factors for each study variable that were used for the descriptive and inferential analysis. The response rate was at 88% for the quantitative aspect with 320 questionnaires received back out of 365 targeted respondents. Ten key informants from 10 selected non-profit organizations in Nairobi City County took part in the in-depth interviews. The qualitative data was analyzed thematically.

Results and findings: Servant leadership tenets have both negative and positive effect on community impact. Holistic approach to work and service to others portray a significant negative, while sense of community and uprightness components depict a significant positive effect.

Key words: Community Development, Holistic Approach to Work, Project Implementation, Sense of Community, Servant Leadership, Service to Others, Servant Leadership Tenets, Uprightness