Servant Leadership: Why the Best Leaders Put Their People First

       When I was in the U.S. Marines, I learned one of the most important leadership lessons of my life.

As a Sergeant, I never ate first. Ever.

Before I took a single bite, I made sure every Marine under my charge had their food. That wasn’t a policy—it was just the way we operated. Leaders take care of their people first. It’s a principle drilled into us from the start, and it sticks with you long after the uniform comes off.

I never saw it as an obligation. It wasn’t about being tough or selfless. It was about something deeper—trust, responsibility, and service.

Because when people know their leader is looking out for them, they give their absolute best. Not out of fear. Not because they have to. But because they know their leader would do the same for them.

And this doesn’t just apply in the Marines. It applies everywhere—in business, in cybersecurity, in leadership.

If you’re in charge of a team, a company, or an organization, ask yourself this: Are you eating first? Or are you making sure your people are taken care of before yourself?

Because that answer will define the kind of leader you are—and the kind of team you build.

The Leadership Crisis We Can’t Ignore

In a world driven by competition, metrics, and the relentless pursuit of success, leadership is often mistaken for authority.

Too many leaders believe their role is to be in charge rather than to take care of those in their charge. But true leadership isn’t about power—it’s about service and responsibility. It’s about making sure the people you lead are set up for success, protected, and empowered to thrive.

The best leaders don’t climb to the top by stepping on others. They rise because they lift others up with them.

We’ve all seen what happens when leadership is built on fear and self-preservation. Companies that prioritize profits over people create cultures of burnout, high turnover, and distrust. Meanwhile, companies that prioritize people first create environments where employees feel safe, valued, and committed to a shared vision.

One simple truth separates great leaders from the rest: They eat last.

They take responsibility for failures and give credit for success. They create an environment where individuals feel safe to perform at their best.

This isn’t idealism—it’s the foundation of effective leadership. And it’s time more leaders embraced it.

The Myth of the Self-Made Leader

We love stories of the self-made leader—the lone visionary who climbs to success through sheer willpower.

But here’s the truth: no leader succeeds alone.

Every successful leader stands on the shoulders of a great team.

Compare two types of organizations:

🔴Toxic Workplaces: Employees are treated as expendable. Fear drives decision-making. People hesitate to speak up or innovate. High turnover and burnout erode performance.

🟢Servant-Led Organizations: Trust is built at every level. Leaders invest in their teams. Employees feel valued, which drives loyalty, creativity, and long-term success.

Servant leadership isn’t about weakness—it’s about strength through trust. It creates resilient organizations where people go the extra mile not because they have to, but because they want to.

What Servant Leadership Looks Like in Action

It’s easy to say, "Put your people first, "but what does that actually mean in practice?

Here are three core principles of servant leadership that separate great leaders from average ones.

1. Leaders Protect Their People Before Profits

When times get tough, many leaders make one fatal mistake—they protect the bottom line at the expense of their people.

Layoffs. Budget cuts. Increased workloads.

Great leaders know that if they take care of their people; their people will take care of the business.

🔹Example: During the 2008 financial crisis, Southwest Airlines was one of the only major airlines that didn’t lay off employees. Instead, leadership focused on cutting executive bonuses and rethinking financial strategies to keep their workforce intact. The result? When the economy bounced back, Southwest had an engaged, loyal workforce ready to drive growth, while other airlines struggled to rehire.

Servant leaders take responsibility for shielding their people from unnecessary harm. They ensure that those who work for them feel safe, not just physically, but emotionally and professionally.

2. They Create a Culture of Trust, Not Fear

In many organizations, employees hesitate to: ❌ Speak up. ❌ Challenge ideas. ❌ Admit mistakes.

Fear drives silence. Silence breeds stagnation.

But servant leaders create a culture of psychological safety, where employees feel safe to:

✅ Admit mistakes without fear of punishment.

✅ Share ideas without fear of rejection.

✅ Challenge leadership without fear of retaliation.

 🔹 Example: When Alan Mulally became CEO of Ford, the company was struggling. At his first executive meeting, leaders were afraid to admit problems. So, Mulally did something radical—he celebrated the first executive who openly shared a problem. That single moment changed the culture. 

Within months, leaders were collaborating instead of competing, and Ford turned its business around.     

Trust fuels innovation. Fear kills it.

3. They Lead by Example, Not by Command

There’s a reason Marine Corps leaders eat last—because leadership is about serving others first.

The best leaders never ask their teams to do something they wouldn’t do themselves. They are the first to:

✅ Take responsibility when things go wrong.

✅ Roll up their sleeves and help when needed.

✅ Prioritize the well-being of their people over personal convenience.

🔹Example: Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, made the bold decision to provide healthcare benefits for part-time employees. It was an investment that cost the company millions—but it built a culture of loyalty, commitment, and trust that fueled long-term success.

"Servant leaders put people over perks, trust over fear, and service over ego."

The Question Every Leader Needs to Ask

“Leaders eat last” doesn’t mean always putting your own needs aside or sheltering your teams from discomfort. 

As the world become increasingly complex and volatile, the leaders with the most influence understand something important.

It’s not about having power and control.

It’s not about efficiency and using employees as a means to drive performance.

It's not about the leader as the hero(ine) at the center of it all.

To build the teams that can solve big, thorny problems, leaders will have to empower their people to learn, grow and innovate.

This approach is often called "servant leadership" because the leader sees themself as serving, rather than commanding, the people around them.

But there’s nothing servile or weak about it.

So, here’s the real question:

Are you eating first?

Or are you taking care of your people first?

Because people notice.

They always notice.

And if you’re the kind of leader who eats last—who puts your team first—they will go the extra mile for you every single time.

The best leaders in business—the ones who build great teams, great cultures, and great companies—operate like the best leaders in the Marines.

Because when people feel safe, supported, and valued, they don’t just work for a paycheck.

They work for a purpose.

Let’s build teams, companies, and organizations where leaders take care of their people first—because that’s how real success is built.

Now It’s Your Turn

👉 How do you lead? Drop a comment and let’s discuss. If you want to dive more into servant leadership, Simon Sinek has a great book called "Leaders Eat Last".