Oct

27

2016

Icelandic Business Professor Visits TD to Research Servant Leadership

Sigurður Ragnarsson’s visit to TDIndustries was years in the making. Sigurður, who heads the Department of Business at Bifröst University in Iceland, has been studying, teaching and providing training in leadership for most of his career. Nearly a decade ago, he stumbled across some information that changed the course of his work. “I was writing a book about leadership and communication when I ran across Servant Leadership. I was interested right away,” he says. “Something clicked that this was a subject that I might want to explore in more detail, so I did. I read Greenleaf’s essay and read some other books and articles, and you know, it happened quite fast.”

“I realized within two or three months that I could possibly use this as a model for effective leadership, and I decided to try it out,” he continues. “I was training and working at one of the biggest banks in Iceland, and doing their leadership training – about 200-250 managers were in the program. I was going to include many leadership models, and I decided to use Servant Leadership as the main frame. I did, and it worked perfectly. From there, there was no turning back.”

As Sigurður delved deeper into companies and organizations that were using Servant Leadership, he ran across TDIndustries. He read as much as he could about TD: its relationship with Greenleaf in the early days, the work of implementing the Servant Leadership philosophy, and the success of the company. “I remember back then thinking, ‘Wow, I wish that someday I could go and visit TD.’ Now I’m here and I’m so glad.’”

The visit to TD is part of Sigurður’s research for his doctoral study on Servant Leadership. He felt that studying literature on the subject wasn’t going to be enough to truly explain the method of leadership. “There’s really a need for understanding and exploration of how Servant Leadership is practiced in reality in Servant Leadership organizations.”

At Bifröst University, Sigurður has already begun implementing his research into the Business Department’s curriculum. The University now has a master’s program in Leadership and Management in which Servant Leadership is the main academic foundation. The program has been incredibly successful for the University and is now graduating its first students.

On his trip to the U.S., Sigurður also visited Schneider Corporation in Indiana before coming to Texas to meet with the Partners at TD. “I didn’t think I could end up here. It’s such a privilege and I’m so honored to be at TD,” he says. “I have no doubt that by participating in this study TD is going to contribute so much to the growth of Servant Leadership.”

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