Real leaders serve

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” 

This was what John F. Kennedy  implored in his inaugural address in 1961. 

Truly effective and inspiring leaders aren’t actually driven to lead people; they are driven to serve them. For a leader to be a leader, they need a following. And why should any individual want to follow another individual unless they feel that person will look out for them and their interests?

It is our job as leaders to help the people we lead or work with, be good at their jobs. This means helping them get the: 

• resources
• information
• support 

they need to perform at their best. The more we do that, the more we will earn their trust so that when we need them to go the extra mile, they will ... gladly. 

Leadership is as much about environment as it is about practice. People should generally feel that we’re there to help them be the best version of themselves.  A leader’s job is not to do the work for others, it’s to help others figure out how to do it themselves, to get things done and to succeed beyond what they thought possible.

Leaders lead not to serve those above them; they lead to serve those who serve them.

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