VOĐENJE SLUŽENJEM: ISTRAŽIVANJE I KORIŠTENJE METAFORE "VOĐA JE SLUGA"
LEADING BY SERVING: EXPLORATION AND USE OF THE “LEADER IS SERVANT” METAPHOR

Summary/Abstract: This paper delves into the “Leader is Servant” metaphor within the realm of IT leadership, examining how embodying the role of a servant can redefine and enhance leadership effectiveness. Utilizing conceptual metaphor theory as a foundational framework, we explore how envisioning leadership as servitude - viewing the leader as a facilitator, the team as a community, and success as shared service - can cultivate a more inclusive, empathetic, and responsive organizational culture. Drawing from diverse instances in the IT sector, we scrutinize the potential advantages of this metaphor, such as fostering a collaborative environment, boosting morale, and encouraging ethical and sustainable decision-making. Additionally, we consider the metaphor’s limitations and pitfalls, including the risks of diminished authority, perceived passivity, and potential exploitation. The paper proposes that the “Leader is Servant” metaphor provides a compelling, altruistic paradigm for rethinking leadership dynamics, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of technology. Future research might investigate how this metaphor intersects with various leadership styles across different industries or how it can be integrated with other metaphorical conceptions of leadership to enhance organizational and individual performance.

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