Servant Leadership and Need Satisfaction

Abstract

This chapter In this servant leadership model, another theory from the domain of positive psychology, self-determination theory (SDT; Deci and Ryan in Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior, Plenum, New York, NY, 1985) is used to explain the importance and application of need satisfaction as it pertains to well-being and motivation (Mayer, Servant leadership: Recent developments in theory and research, Palgrave Macmillan, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, pp. 147–154, 2010). Well-being, in this context, refers to eudaimonic rather than hedonic well-being, although researchers have maintained that hedonic well-being can be experienced as an outcome of eudaimonic well-being. For example, Ryan and Deci (Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness, Guilford Publishing, New York, 2017) advanced that an outcome of eudaimonic well-being or flourishing is to feel positive, satisfied, and happy. Like most aspects of Seligman’s (Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being, Free Press, New York, NY, 2011) well-being theory, SDT is also focused on the idea that eudaimonic well-being is found in the process of becoming our best self, fully functioning, or flourishing. A brief overview of SDT will be provided and will be followed by a much closer look at the components of the theory and how it relates to servant leadership.