Case Study 10.

By:Hadley Schimdt

OGL 300 Theory Practice Leadership

Professor Scott Russell

 Doctor to the Poor

1) Would you characterize Paul Farmer as a servant leader? Explain your answer.

Yes, I would characterize Paul Farmer as a servant leader. This is because he became

a leader by seeking to help and serve others around them instead of telling them what

to do. When he first met people from Haiti he didn’t assume he could help them by

taking control, he knew the best way to help them was to serve them. Another kind of

leader would try to inspire people to actively try to act in a way that makes them the best

leader they can be so people would follow them. But in these circumstances, Paul

wisely chooses to serve.

2) Putting others first is the essence of servant leadership. In what way does Paul

Farmer put others first?

Paul Farmer put others first by delaying or putting off everything in his life to serve the

people in Haiti, then literally people all around the world. In the case study, it mentioned

he still visited Haiti while he was getting his degree despite the difficult living conditions.

It also mentions that instead of living as comfortably as possible while in Haiti Paul

chose to sleep in his company's basement. He obviously is very selfless and focused on

others' needs exactly as a servant leader would.

3) Another Characteristic of a servant leader is getting followers to serve. Who are

Paul’s followers, and how did they become servants to his vision?
Paul’s followers are the employees of his company Partners in Health. In 2008 he has

13,600 employees working around the country. The employees of Partners in Health

became servants to his vision of helping people around the world because he did it first

and showed it was possible. He found great success in Haiti helping as many people as

he could. And despite having difficulties with the Russian government he was able to

eventually help those people as well. As Paul made it aware that people not only

needed but could be helped I think people rushed to help him inspired by his abilities to

serve.

4) What role do you think Paul’s Childhood had in his development as a servant

leader?

Paul didn’t have an easy childhood, and that could have been a part of his development

as a servant leader. In the case study, it mentioned that he was used to the grittier side

of life living with a family of eight in difficult circumstances like a converted school bus or

a boat on a bayou. I’m sure these tight-knit family conditions led to a sense of

helplessness and selflessness. I know from experience that it’s hard to be selfish for

long when living with a family of eight. Living in these tough circumstances also meant

he had some empathy for the people he was trying to help because he had grown up in

a tough environment as well.

 References

Northouse, P. G. (2015). Leadership: Theory and Practice. SAGE Publications.