I’ve had the privilege of working with a lot of leaders over the years. Some have impressive titles. Some have huge platforms. Some can command a room the second they walk into it.

But none of those things are what make someone a leader to me.
I’ve always defined a leader pretty simply:
A leader is someone who is willing to serve others.

That’s it.

Leadership isn’t about how many people report to you. It’s not about how many letters you have after your name. It’s not about having the biggest office, making the final decision, or being the loudest voice in the room.

Leadership is about what you’re willing to do for the people around you. And when I think about the greatest example of leadership, I can’t help but think about my faith. And think about Jesus.

Now you don’t have to be a Christian to understand. But I love this example of Jesus’ leadership that happens in John 13.

Jesus is sitting with His disciples. He knows what is coming. He knows who He is. And yet, He gets up from the table, wraps a towel around His waist, gets down on His hands and knees, and begins washing the feet of His disciples.

Think about that for a second. The Son of God knelt down to wash dirty feet.

He didn’t ask someone else to do it.
He didn’t say, “That’s beneath me.”
He didn’t remind everyone in the room of His position.
He served.

And then He told His disciples that He had given them an example to follow. That’s the kind of leader I want to be. That’s the kind of leader I want to follow.

Because the best leaders I’ve ever known don’t spend their time reminding everyone that they’re in charge. They spend their time reminding everyone around them that they matter.

I think sometimes we make serving others more complicated than it needs to be. We think serving has to mean some huge sacrifice. We convince ourselves that we’ll serve when we have more time, more money, a bigger platform, or a better opportunity.

But most acts of service aren’t big.
They’re small.
They’re quiet.
And often, nobody else even notices them.

It’s picking up the trash in the hallway even though it’s “not your job.”
It’s staying a few extra minutes to help someone who is overwhelmed.
It’s noticing the person who is usually overlooked.
It’s asking, “What can I take off your plate today?” and actually meaning it.
It’s doing something that needs to be done without worrying about who gets the credit.

That’s leadership.

And you don’t need a title to do any of it.

Three Ways You Can Serve Someone Today

If you’re wondering what this looks like practically, here are three simple things you can do today.

1. Notice a Need and Meet It

Don’t wait for someone to ask. Look around. Who seems overwhelmed? What hasn’t been done? Who is carrying more than their share?

Then step in.

Take something off someone’s plate. Clean something up. Carry something. Finish a task. Bring someone a cup of coffee. It doesn’t have to be impressive.

In fact, some of the most meaningful acts of service are the ones nobody ever knows you did.

2. Give Someone Your Full Attention

One of the greatest gifts we can give another person is our attention.

Put the phone down.
Close the laptop.
Look someone in the eyes and ask, “How are you really doing?”
And then listen.

Don’t immediately try to fix it. Don’t turn the conversation back to yourself. Don’t rush them because you have somewhere else to be.

Just be present.

Sometimes serving someone doesn’t require doing anything at all. Sometimes it simply requires making sure they know they aren’t invisible.

3. Encourage Someone Who Isn’t Expecting It

Think of someone who could use encouragement today and reach out.

Send the text.
Write the note.
Make the phone call.

Tell the custodian you notice how hard they work. Thank the person who always seems to work behind the scenes. Tell a coworker something specific you appreciate about them. Remind someone of the difference they’re making.

Don’t assume people already know. Say it. You never know how badly someone may need the words you’re considering keeping to yourself.

Grab the Towel

The world gives us a very different picture of leadership.

Climb higher.
Build your platform.
Get noticed.
Be important.

But what I love is that there have been leaders, like Jesus, who have shown us something different.

So maybe today we grab the towel and serve.

Because leadership isn’t proven by how many people are willing to serve you. It’s revealed by how willing you are to serve them. I don’t want to be remembered as the person with the biggest title, the loudest voice, or the most accomplishments.

I want people to remember that when they needed someone, I showed up.

That I noticed.
That I listened.
That I helped.
That I served.

Because to me, that’s leadership. And that’s the kind of leader worth following.