Leading through servant-hood in the Democratc Republic of the Congo : the African context

Abstract

The African continent demands true leaders who can change the patterns of how actions had been performed and who can put the continent on the path of development. How can true leaders emerge since the continent is faced with so many crises on every hand? To answer this question the article briefl y compares and contrasts characteristics commonly and universally recognised to leaders. This analysis will assist in determining whether there is a difference between characteristics portrayed by leaders among different cultures. In this article, it is found that different cultures have different conceptions of what leadership should entail. The critical question in cross-cultural analyses of managerial infl uences is whether individuals’ responses to organisational practices are more or less universal. Leadership is a scarcity in Africa and that is because of some institutional and structural constraints which emanate from the lack of effective leaders. Considering the current confi guration of the African continent, the use of the servant-leader model becomes relevant. The servant-leader model, if well applied, can assist African leaders to reverse the dark picture that portrays the performance of the continent and enable them to place the continent on the path of development and prosperity.