ABSTRACT

This article provides a contrasting perspective between populist and servant leadership. We propose four key differences based on distinct views on people centricity, the role of the people in the leadership process, the problem solving approach and the preferred leader role. Given the key function that meaning plays in leadership discourse, in particular during times of uncertainty and change, we further propose that populist leaders make use of simplistic meaning-making systems that emphasize monistic and over-simplified views around polarized options, while servant leaders in contrast use complex meaning-making systems that emphasize pluralist and reconciled views towards shared problem solving. Considering that populist leadership often makes references to serving, humility and self-sacrifice in defence of the people, we find it important to distinguish it from servant leadership. We advance, in fact, that servant leaders can function as an antidote to populism, being a genuine people centred approach with a reconciliatory and pluralist view and an adequate (but surely not perfect) response to many of our societal problems.

摘要

本文提供了民粹主义和仆人式领导之间的对比视角。我们基于对以人为本、人在领导过程中的作用、解决问题的方法和首选领导角色的不同看法，提出了四个关键差异。考虑到意义在领导话语中的关键作用，特别是在不确定和变化的时期，我们进一步建议民粹主义领导人利用简单化的意义制定系统，强调围绕两极分化的选择的一元论和过于简单化的观点，而仆人式领导者在对比使用复杂的意义构建系统，强调对共同解决问题的多元化和协调的观点。考虑到民粹主义领导层经常提到服务、谦逊和自我牺牲以保卫人民，我们发现将其与仆人式领导区分开来很重要。事实上，我们认为仆人领袖可以作为民粹主义的解毒剂，作为一种真正以人民为中心的方法，具有和解和多元化的观点，并对我们的许多社会问题做出适当（但肯定不是完美的）回应。