Servant Hierarchy
In coaching military veterans, the term “servant leadership” comes up frequently. Some tell me, “I want to serve others, beyond my time in the military,” or, “As a leader, I believe it is my duty to look out for the needs of others more than my own.”
“Servant Leadership” is also a commonly used term in corporate training and professional development programs. Is the military definition of servant leadership the same understanding as the private sector interpretation?
Modern Servant Hierarchy
The presence of servants of noble birth imposed a social hierarchy on the household that went parallel to the hierarchy dictated by function. This second hierarchy had at its top the steward (alternatively seneschal or majordomo), who had the overriding responsibility for the domestic affairs of the household. There was a hierarchy among the servants based on the job they did for a family. The Housekeeper was also known as Mrs. Even if she was unmarried. She was at the top of the female servants and was responsible for maintaining the house and give orders to the other female staff. Household Staff Hierarchy Generally, servants fell into two broad categories: upper servants and lower servants. The more responsibilities overseen and the closer the servant worked with the master or mistress of the household, the higher their standing.
What is Servant Leadership?Traditionally, leadership is understood as the power of one individual who controls, manipulates or directs others as organized by a hierarchy. The Wikipedia definition of servant leadership as that of a mindset or philosophy: “… the servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Servant leadership turns the power pyramid upside down; instead of the people working to serve the leader, the leader exists to serve the people. When leaders shift their mindset and serve first, they unlock purpose and ingenuity in those around them, resulting in higher performance and engaged, fulfilled employees.”
In the business world, servant leaders are known to be those individuals who put the team first, who collaborate, mentor, and give of themselves for the pure and unselfish betterment of others. They are often regarded as selfless, humble, and generous. Many of our high-profile corporate leaders are assigned the value of “having a servant’s heart.” While they might seek growth, fame, attention, and access, they do so because it empowers them to help others, not themselves.
Military Servant Leadership is Valuable for the Private SectorIn a 2009 Harvard Business Review article, the author highlights unique aspects of military service that align with that of a servant mentality: “military leadership is based on a concept of duty, service, and self-sacrifice; we take an oath to that effect.” He goes on to advise corporate leaders to recognize and place high value on the military culture’s training towards generosity and self-sacrifice, “Tie selflessness with the adaptive capacity, innovation, and flexibility demanded by dangerous contexts, and one can see the value of military leadership as a model for leaders in the private sector.”
The civilian workplace is certainly filled with competition, threats, challenges and competing personal agendas. It is also packed with leaders who care, empathize with, and serve their constituents and followers wholeheartedly. Before assuming that you leave your servants heart at the door when you take of your military uniform, learn more about a potential employer’s values and track record for team building, leadership, collaboration and their desire to serve their employees, customers and community.
Are You a Servant Leader?If the understanding of servant leadership presented here feels consistent with your beliefs around how we should live, work and interact with others, then you likely have a servant leader’s heart. Finding a job where you can be generous, other-focused, humble and compassionate for those around you will be critical to building and sustaining a meaningful career.
A great house is a large house or mansion with luxurious appointments and great retinues of indoor and outdoor staff. The term is used mainly historically, especially of properties at the turn of the 20th century, i.e., the late Victorian or Edwardian era in the United Kingdom and the Gilded Age in the United States.
Definition[edit]
There is no precise definition of 'great house', and the understanding of varies between countries. In England, while most villages would have a manor house since time immemorial, originally home of the lord of the manor and sometimes referred to as 'the big house', not all would have anything as lavish as a traditional English country house, one of the traditional markers of an established 'county' family that derived at least a part of its income from landed property. Stately homes, even rarer and more expensive, were associated with the nobility, not the gentry. Many mansions were demolished in the 20th century; families that had previously split their time between their country house and their town house found the maintenance of both too expensive. Many properties are now open to the public as historic house museums, either run by their ancestral owners on a commercial basis, or having been given to English Heritage or similar organisations. Others operate as hotels and wedding venues. Some still serve as the family seat.
In Ireland, the term big house is usual for the houses of the Anglo-Irishascendancy.[2][3][4]
In the United States, great houses can be found on streets known informally as 'millionaires' mile' (or 'row') in certain cities.
In Jamaica, 'great house' is the standard term for the house at the centre of plantation life,[5] what in the United States is called a plantation house.
One commonality between countries is that the family occupying the great house were outnumbered, often greatly so, by their staff. There was often an elaborate hierarchy among domestic workers, probably most familiar to people today through television dramas such as Downton Abbey.
As in the past, today's great houses are limited to heads of state, the very rich, or those who have inherited them; few in the developed world are staffed at the level of past centuries. Nowadays, the International Guild of Butlers estimates that the annual salaries of a 20–25 person household staff total in excess of US$1,000,000.
Management[edit]
On large estates or in families with more than one residence, there may be a steward (or the modern equivalent, an estate manager) who oversees direction of the entire establishment. Today, it is not uncommon for a couple to split the duties of management between them.
The head of the household is not the butler, but the house manager. An estate manager manages more than one property, and usually has financial and managerial background.
Practices vary depending on the size of the household and the preference of the employers, but in general the staff is divided into departments run by the following staff:[3][4]
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Butler | The head of household staff in most homes; in charge of the pantry, wine cellar and dining room. In a small house the butler also valets for the master of the house. Male staff report to him. The butler is often engaged by the master of the house but usually reports to the lady of the house or sometimes to the housekeeper.[3][4] |
| Cook | In charge of the kitchen and kitchen staff. Sometimes a chef is employed with several subordinate cooks. The cook usually reports directly to the lady of the house but sometimes to the housekeeper. If the cook is a woman, she is always addressed as 'Mrs', regardless of her marital status.[3][4] |
| Housekeeper | Responsible for the house and its appearance; in charge of all female servants, but can sometimes be the lead servant in a household. The housekeeper is always addressed as 'Mrs', regardless of her marital status.[3][4] |
Support household staff[edit]
Sources:[3][4]
For the master of the house:
- Valet (Gentleman's gentleman)
For the lady of the house:
For the children:
Junior household staff[edit]
Sources:[3][4]
- Useful Man (also called houseman)
- Maid (see Types of maid)
- Between staff or Between maids (also called Hall girl, particularly in the US)
Grounds staff[edit]
An estate manager may have charge of the maintenance and care of the grounds, landscaping, and outbuildings (pool, cabana, stables, greenhouse etc.) which is divided into departments run by the:
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Head gardener | Responsible for the grounds around the house; in charge of any additional gardeners or seasonal men and women brought in at times of harvest or planting. |
| Stable Master | Various titles used for the individual responsible for the keeping of animals, particularly those used for recreational pursuits such as horseback riding, fox hunting or dog fancy. |
| Gamekeeper |
Support grounds staff[edit]
Notable great houses[edit]
Depictions of great houses[edit]
The complex hierarchy of a staff in a great house has been portrayed in several notable productions for film and television. Among these are:
- Downton Abbey, ITV television series[3][4] filmed at Highclere Castle, a real-life Great House
See also[edit]
- Master of the Horse, a courtier, i.e. a royal appointment, now only ceremonial
- Master of the Hounds, in charge of and financially responsible for a hunt, usually a foxhunt
Notes[edit]
Downton Servant Hierarchy
- ^Guinness Book of Records, 1966, p.175
- ^Pakenham, Valerie (2001). The Big House in Ireland. Photographs by Thomas Pakenham. Cassell. ISBN0-304-35422-8.
- ^ abcdefghEvangeline Holland. 'Domestic Servants in Edwardian England'. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
- ^ abcdefghBricks & Brass. 'Staff Roles'. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
- ^'Greathouses (Plantation houses)'. Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
The Great House was the seat of authority on an estate. It was the home of planters, or attorneys who acted for the absentee owner. The size and profitability of the property and the wealth of the owner determined the size of the house. These houses were usually two storey buildings with a base of brick, cut stone and mortar. The top floor was usually made of wood. Variations of this archetype included one-storey buildings constructed of wood, cut stone or Spanish walling or wattle and daub; or two-storey building made of brick, wood or cut stone.
Servant Leadership Hierarchy
External links[edit]
English Servants Hierarchy