IMPROVEMENT: Jurnal Ilmiah untuk peningkatan mutu manajemen pendidikan
Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026): Improvement: Jurnal Ilmiah Untuk Peningkatan Mutu Manajemen Pendidikan

Collectivism-Based Servant Leadership in Indonesian Schools: A Qualitative Case Study of Humanistic Principal Leadership

Ajeng Nandarah Falenciah (State University of Surabaya, Indonesia)
Ainur Rifqi (State University of Surabaya, Indonesia)
Kaniati Amalia (State University of Surabaya, Indonesia)
Amrozi Khamidi (State University of Surabaya, Indonesia)
Agustin Hanivia Cindy (Walisongo State Islamic University Semarang, Indonesia)
Ruguang Zhou (Jiangsu Normal University, China)
Hamdan Said (University of Technology Malaysia, Malaysia)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Jun 2026

Abstract

Rigid bureaucratic cultures in schools may weaken teachers’ professional agency and emotional well-being. This study examines how servant leadership practiced by a school principal contributes to a humanistic work environment in an Indonesian junior secondary school. Using a descriptive qualitative design, the study was conducted at SMP Negeri 3 Waru Sidoarjo, East Java, from July to December 2025. Data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation involving 12 participants: one principal, one vice-principal, and ten senior teachers. The data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The findings show that active listening, humility, emotional support, and participatory problem-solving helped reduce hierarchical distance, strengthen teachers perceived psychological safety, and encourage more open communication in responding to administrative and curriculum-related challenges. This study proposes the Collectivism-Based Servant Leadership Model, or KPBK, by integrating servant leadership with gotong royong, musyawarah, and Ing Ngarsa Sung Tuladha. It also identifies Double-Loop Empowerment as a qualitative mechanism linking principal support, teacher empowerment, and humanistic teacher-student interaction. The findings suggest that school reform requires not only policy mandates and technical training, but also humanistic human resource governance.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

improvement

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Education

Description

This journal covers the discipline of Educational Management, including: quality management, utilization of information and technology, curriculum development, student affairs, human resource in education, public relation, and community-based ...