Steward Leadership Among Christian Leaders Of For-Profit Organizations

The results of this research determined the predominant models of leadership used by Christians in senior leadership positions of for-profit organizations, and revealed significant attitudinal relationships existed based on a leader’s identification with distinguishable steward leader characteristics. The researcher administered the Christian For-Profit Leader Survey, modified with permission from Wilson’s (2010) Christian Nonprofit Leader Survey, to 209 Christians in senior leadership positions of for-profit organizations. The survey included eight demographic type questions and five attitudinal questions, containing 58 opinion statements that respondents ranked on a five point Likert-type scale. This research found servant leadership (80%) was the predominant leadership model used by Christians in senior leadership of for-profit companies. The research revealed a minority (19%) of Christian leaders of for-profit organizations claimed to operate under steward leadership. The study concluded significant attitudinal differences and relationships existed between steward leaders and non-steward leaders based on identifiable steward leader characteristics. A leader’s self-identification as a steward leader is a predictor of a leader’s attitude toward responsibility, authority, accountability, organizational ownership, and concern for the poor. This study presented findings that may be useful in future research regarding steward leadership among Christians in for-profit organizations.