SAMOAN SOCIETY AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP
Servant leadership is multifaceted, interpersonal and cross-cultural, a philosophy in which Samoan society is deeply rooted. The servant leadership is perceived as a paradigm shift from leadership at the helm to the leader that serves. It echoes Samoan theoretical viewpoint that the path to leadership is through service. Early beliefs of leadership in the traditional hierarchical structure have gradually been replaced by a more service-oriented leadership. In Samoan society the concept of service is embedded in all aspects of life that encompasses the family, church, community and nation. It includes teu le va or safeguarding relationships to maintain peace and harmony. Greenleaf’s servant leadership concept guided the conceptual framework and the theoretical framework and understanding of servant leadership was linked to the socioculturalist and constructivist theories that focus on active and interactive experience which contribute to the enhancement of practice and communication. The ten characteristics of servant leadership: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualisation, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people and building community were aligned to the indigenous, organic Samoan leadership approaches. This could be seen as a step towards coexistence in educational practice, connecting humanity and transcending physical borders and cultural orientations.
Keywords: servant leadership, indigenous organic Samoan leadership, western leadership, cultural values, collaborative, dominant, hierarchical structure
