ABSTRACT
International social work is a helping profession that defies barriers, creates change, and embraces challenges as opportunities. Servant leadership (SL) uses service to help and influence others, incorporates an awareness of self, and empathetically puts others first. The combination of international social work and SL may seem like an unlikely pair, but they both share integrity and service as fundamental underpinnings. Building upon this shared basis, the integrated principles of humanity, community, and intelligence originate to form the integrated principle-based approach. The International Federation of Social Workers adopted the first international code of ethics in 1976 and has revised it multiple times to reflect the dynamic cultural, economic, and political development of many countries. SL is not a new theoretical perspective on guidance, but rather an expanding model of leadership. The impact of recognizing and acknowledging a dual system of integrity and service may provide new and distinguishable opportunities for both servant leaders and international social workers.
