Examining the characteristics and virtues associated with servant leadership in public relations

Abstract

Are servant leadership and ethics of care being practiced by public relations leaders? This study involved in-depth interviews with 32 public relations leaders working in a variety of organizational settings in the United States and provided insights from men and women, including people of color. We found evidence of an “other oriented approach” to leadership that involved prioritizing the needs and concerns of employees and a genuine concern for the wellbeing of others. The findings are consistent with characteristics associated with both servant leadership and ethics of care. The public relations leaders were able to provide specific examples of how these perspectives impacted their decision making and specific ways they demonstrate that they care about their employees. The leaders engaged in active listening, which allowed them to identify employee needs. They then had to access whether or not they could meet those needs, and at times that involved assisting employees in leaving the organization. Implications for theory and practice are included.