Dissertation Abstracts by Wku Educational Leadership Doctoral Program Graduates the Relationship between Perceived Servant Leadership Constructs and Collective Self- Esteem by Leann Howell

Following Greenleaf’s (1970) seminal work in servant leadership, much has been written on what servant leadership is, but very little written on what it does. At the center of this research is a focus on how followers perceive servant leadership constructs, and the relationship between that perception and collective selfesteem as it relates to their affiliation with the organization. The central question guiding this research is: “Is there a relationship between perceived servant leadership constructs and collective self-esteem?” Using the seven constructs, or behaviors, as defined by Patterson (2003) and the Servant leadership Assessment Instrument (SLAI) developed by Dennis (2005) and based on Patterson’s constructs; in conjunction with Luhtanen and Crocker’s (1993) Collective Self-Esteem Scale (CSE), correlations were made identifying a statistically significant relationship between perceived servant leadership attributes and collective self-esteem among employees and volunteers of Together We Care, a small, 501(c)3 non-profit agency practicing servant leadership.