The main focus of the chapter is to introduce and describe the central characteristics of common good leadership and establish existing connections to servant leadership. The multiple notions of the common good have originated in different philosophical traditions, and common good leadership overlaps with a variety of positive and propositive leadership styles, particularly servant leadership; therefore, the most relevant traits and skills of both leadership styles will be analyzed, providing insights into whether leading for the common good can be considered an act of service and if acts of service are enough to drive collective actions towards the common good. Literature review and content analysis were used as the methodologies of the study.
TopIntroduction
Renewed interest in the notion of the common good provides a fertile ground for studies on the subject, such as connecting it to different areas such as leadership. This chapter presents a general background that introduces the basic foundations of the common good and the essence of servant leadership to connect them further.
The main issues and controversies that can be found in that the notion of common good might seem, for some, too abstract to fully understand its meanings and applications, mainly when analyzed from the perspective of leadership. In its roots, the concept describes the welfare of all community members, where private interests must be compatible with the general well-being, and this usually involves some type of leadership to attain and guide those shared goals. Research abounds on the action or process of leading, but it is not much about leading for the common good (Chappell, 1993). Although the notion of common good appears in research about leadership, specific studies on the matter are still lacking. In existing research, the notion is scarcely defined or described, and there is an inconsistent base of literature that makes the construction of a solid theoretical framework difficult.
In most published materials regarding leadership in which there are mentions the common good, it is stated that a particular leadership style or trait is in service of, in pursuit of, striving for, is dedicated to, contributes to, fosters, or focuses on the common good, but without actually stating how this is done, or why. Servant leadership, by contrast, has been researched and analyzed in more detail and is one of the leadership styles in which mentions of the common good are more frequently made.
Acts of service and acts of citizenship appear to be how servant leadership and common good leadership are performed, and although they might also appear similar in their focus, differences are essential based on two particular notions: stewardship and bienveillance.