Chapter 3: Servant Leadership and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Predictors of Climate

This study examined the relationship between servant leadership of the principal with Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) and school climate. Servant leadership, a leadership behavior that emphasizes personal growth of followers, has a useful research history in business but limited exposure in public schools. Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) is an organizational construct that describes noncontractual behaviors of workers that contribute to the success of the organization. These relationships in turn foster organizational citizenship behaviors within the school and provide an open/healthy school environment.

This study utilized data gathered from 708 participants within a random sample of 41 public high schools in Alabama. Three reliable instruments were used in this study: Servant Leadership Survey (SLS), Organizational Climate Index (OCI), Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale (OCB Scale).

The first hypothesis of the study tested the relationship of servant leadership with OCB and school climate. The findings supported a previous study that servant leadership behaviors of the principal are significantly related to the school climate. As servant leadership behaviors increase the climate of the school improves. Findings also reveal that servant leadership behaviors are significantly related to the OCB within the school. As servant leadership behaviors increase the level of OCB within the school rises.

The second hypothesis of the study tested the predictability of servant leadership and OCB on the perceived school climate. Regression analysis results identified OCB as the greater predictor of school climate. Further examination of the servant leadership and OCB with each climate dimension provided a more comprehensive examination of the relationships. OCB was found to be a greater predictor of collegial leadership and professional teacher behavior than servant leadership. Surprisingly, results of the analysis revealed socioeconomic status (SES) was the greater predictor of the academic press and environmental press within the school climate than servant leadership.