John C. Maxwell is the author of over 75 best-selling books on leadership, and one of the core messages he shares on this topic is that leadership is about serving others, before yourself.
The challenge is that most organizations operate from a hierarchical leadership structure; in that context, being a leader refers to being in a position of power and authority. Rather than showing humility, influence and meeting people where they are at, those who act as leaders in those contexts think that being in such a role means power and authority.
The good news is that some of the top-performing organizations are led by servant leaders. John Maxwell talks about these leaders as being people-centric (modeling servant leadership behavior and valuing service to others), humble (allowing their behavior to communicate their values and their appreciation for their people) and vigilant (in promoting the right attitude and belief systems that encourage others to succeed).
Would others describe you as a servant leader?
It may be uncomfortable to answer this question, but it’s important to reflect on this in order to self-correct, get the right attitude and work toward serving others while using the gifts you possess.
If your personal gain outweighs on an ongoing basis your desire to serve others, you are missing out on the core meaning of leadership. And that can keep you from helping your family, your business, your community, and you achieve the success that is within reach.
3 quick ideas on this:
- Read a well written and inspiring book on leadership, such as John Maxwell’s book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”.
- Reflect on how you can be a better leader within your family, at work, and in your community.
- Start serving. Begin serving with your body, and your heart will eventually catch up. Then, keep at it until your heart desires to serve others well.
All the best!
Alex Rășcanu
P.S. If this resonated, hit reply and share your reflections. I read every message. Also, come for one of the upcoming #ExperienceTO historical tours (we just released the 2026 events schedule).
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