Leadership is not a title. Nor is it a right. It is not an excuse to boss others around. It doesn’t bestow upon its owner powers over others’ choices, values or decisions. Leadership is service. It is putting others first—their interests, concerns and needs. It is not glamorous. Any perks are outweighed by its responsibility and magnitude. And it is never about the leader. Leadership is not about the leader. It’s about those being led—the organization and its employees. Inherent in leadership is a paradox—to lead one must serve, to lead one must have others’ interests first. For all the alphas out there such advice seems counter intuitive. Alphas want to take the hill, storm the castle and bask in the glory. A leader’s team, however, wants to know and feel appreciated and wants to see, through the leader’s actions, that their interests are at the forefront of the leader’s mind and heart. The team will buy into the leader’s vision and mission if that vision and mission is as much about them as it is about the leader.

Effective leadership begins with defining a vision where the organization and its employees, not its leaders, are served. This selfless approach breeds loyalty. Prioritizing others motivates them to prioritize the leader and her vision. Caring for others, expressing sincere interest in their interests, empowering them to fulfill their goals within the organization, propels them to reach beyond themselves and serve as the leader serves, serving others and the organization.  Selflessness is a virtue often extolled but rarely exercised. Putting others first is difficult to practice, but once done it becomes contagious. An organization requires everyone to put forth their best and sacrifice a bit of themselves for it. Leading by example and sacrificing for others promotes self-sacrifice. By showing others one cares for them, they will care, promote and support the vision. They in turn will sacrifice for others on the team.