The nonprofit board servant leader : a quantitative analysis of servant leadership behavior in nonprofit board presidents from the perception of nonprofit chief staff officers using Liden's global servant leadership scale

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to fill the gap in the current body of research regarding the leadership behavior characteristics, specifically servant leadership traits, exhibited by volunteer nonprofit board of director presidents. Using Liden's (2008, 2015) Global Servant Leadership Scale, a survey instrument was developed and administered to chief staff officers of nonprofit organizations, asking respondents to reflect on the behavior traits of their nonprofit's board president. Data from the study participants (n = 133) were analyzed to determine a) if servant leadership behavior is exhibited in nonprofit board presidents and to what extent; b) if differences exist in the servant leadership traits of 501(c)3 nonprofit board presidents and the presidents of other types of 501(c) nonprofit organizations; and, c) if a difference exists between servant leadership behavior in board presidents and the nonprofit organization characteristics of organization focus, annual budget size, and geographic scope of the organization's mission, and demographic characteristics of nonprofit board presidents including age, tenure, length of volunteer involvement, and gender identity. The study addresses gaps in the current literature by advancing empirical research using a reliable and valid instrument to assess servant leadership and the use of empirical research in the nonprofit sector to study the leadership behavior of nonprofit board presidents. The findings of the study suggest that nonprofit board presidents do exhibit servant leadership behavior, as defined by Liden's seven dimensions (emotional healing, creating community value, conceptual skills, empowering, helping others grow and succeed, putting others first, and behaving ethically). On average nonprofit board presidents score highest in exhibiting behaving ethically and empowering. The sample studied scored lowest on average in putting others first and helping others grow and succeed. The study findings found significant difference in the behavior dimensions of creating community value, putting others first, and behaving ethically between nonprofit board presidents of city/locally focused nonprofits and those with a inter/national geographic service scope. Additionally, significant difference was found in leadership behavior of the dimension conceptual skills between nonprofit board presidents age 40 to 55 and those age 56 to 75 years old.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational leadership and policy analysis (MU)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Columbia

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Harris, Chad E.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Wall, Timothy J.

• Author-supplied keywords: servant leadership, nonprofit research, nonprofit board president

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/85776

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/85776