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Self-Reflection and Wonder as Keys to Personal Growth and Servant Leadership

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Practicing Servant Leadership

Abstract

This chapter explains the importance of personal growth for a serving leader. Personal growth is a process, a spiral of continual investigation, within which the deeper meaning of personal themes can be constantly understood. This search gives strength, self-awareness and the feeling of being really autonomous and authentic. Two main keys for increasing self-knowledge are the ability to self-reflect and the ability to wonder. Self-reflection is increased by analysing internal and external signals and teaches the leader to take ownership for his own behaviour. Wondering mobilizes curiosity, strengthens empathy and increases openness to gaining new experiences and entering into relations. Making time for personal growth is an important precondition.

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van ‘T Zet, J. (2018). Self-Reflection and Wonder as Keys to Personal Growth and Servant Leadership. In: van Dierendonck, D., Patterson, K. (eds) Practicing Servant Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75644-8_6

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