Servant Leadership and Volunteering -The Power of Giving Back
Servant leadership – a term introduced by Robert K. Greenleaf in 1970, challenges the traditional view of leadership. Instead of leading for power or status, servant leaders lead to serve.
Servant Leaders focus on:
The growth, well-being, and success of the people and communities around them.
Empowering others to reach their goals
Choosing humility over recognition
Prioritizing people and purpose alongside performance
The result?
Stronger trust
Deeper engagement, And More meaningful and sustainable results.
Volunteering - to offer to do something without being asked or expecting payment and choose to serve something bigger than themselves. Whether supporting a local cause or giving time to a broader mission, volunteers are driven by purpose, not personal gain.
The impact is truly a win-win.
Volunteers: Focus on Communities. Who benefits? Communities and the individuals who give their time:
New skills are developed
Relationships and networks expanded
Stress decreases while connections increase
Confidence and a sense of purpose grow
What do Volunteerism and Servant Leadership have in common?
At their core—everything.
Servant Leadership and Volunteering:
Are grounded in a simple but powerful idea: put others first.
Prioritizing the needs of the community and practicing altruism without expecting anything in return.
Empower others to grow and accomplish their goals
Embrace a mindset and philosophy where the primary goal is to serve team members, clients, and the community, prioritizing their needs and well-being above the leaders’ own self-interest of power.
Prioritize people and purpose alongside performance
Servant leadership and volunteerism aren’t separate paths.
They are the same path—lived in different places.
Whether you’re leading a team or serving in your community, the mindset is the same: show up, contribute, and elevate others. In many ways, leadership itself is an act of service.
For me, volunteering has always been part of my life. My parents instilled in my sisters and me that giving back wasn’t optional—it was foundational. That belief has stayed with me, reinforced by organizations like the United States Junior Chamber, whose creed reminds us that “service to humanity is the best work of life,” and Rotary International, with its enduring motto, “Service Above Self.”
These ideas aren’t just slogans—they’re leadership principles by which my family and I live by. Every. Single. Day.
What can we do moving forward?
Here are a couple of thoughts for you to reflect on this month:
1. Lead differently - Take one step to serve.
Reach out to a local organization, mentor someone on your team, or simply ask someone, “How can I support you?”
Small acts of service are where great leadership begins.
2. Reflect.
Pause and consider: where can you serve more intentionally?
Choose one area—your team, your organization, or your community—and commit to showing up with a servant mindset.
3. Serve - Find one way to give back this month.
Volunteer your time, share your expertise, or support a cause you care about. Service doesn’t require perfection—just participation. The leaders people remember most are the ones who support others in accomplishing their goals and living their best life.
Remember:
“If you try to be everything to everybody, you won’t be anything to anybody, so go out and be something to somebody.”
Go out and make a difference one life at a time.
You Got This. And I have Your Back.
Supporting you in creating the life and career you deserve,
- Ann
