Many of the leaders I coach do. They’re exactly the type of leaders I love to coach.

Their backgrounds and industries are highly varied, spanning private, public and non-profit sectors, but they have one very important trait in common.

Regardless of whether they spend their days in high tech, hospitality, healthcare or some other way, deep down they share a desire and a drive to make a positive difference in other people’s lives.

Often this service ethos is less something they choose to lead with and more a place they’re compelled to lead from. It’s a way of being. What drives them professionally is tied to what matters to them personally – others.

The Markers of a Service-Oriented Leader

If you identify with these traits, you too might operate from a service ethos.

Maybe you know inherently that as a leader, the moves and decisions you make don’t end with you, but create ripples that extend far beyond their initial splash.

Perhaps you see leadership as being more about stewardship than status. You value listening over talking, tuning in to what’s not being said and who’s not being heard. Your blend of confidence and humility isn’t performative. It’s who you are. How you operate.

Sound familiar? Maybe these will resonate too:

You openly share knowledge, wisdom and resources from a place of generosity. You give credit freely and take responsibility willingly. You invest in lifting and developing those around you, leveraging your platform to help others achieve success versus the other way around.

Your authentic presence and vulnerability invite others to show up authentically too. The visible connection between your values and actions creates psychological safety for those around you.

Perhaps most tellingly, you approach leadership as an evolving practice. Your deep curiosity means you actively seek feedback and perspectives different from your own. You model a growth mindset and inspire it in others.

The Service Ethos Paradox

It’s no surprise that leaders who operate from a service ethos are true catalysts for growth, both through their own contributions and the powerful ripples they create.

Yet here lies the paradox: your natural inclination to prioritize others can often relegate your own reflection, growth and development to the back burner. You’ll make time for that later, you think, sometimes indefinitely. The longer this pattern continues, the more entrenched it can become.

Despite fully understanding the value of development, you may struggle to prioritize or give yourself permission to focus that powerful energy on you.

This is precisely why I’m drawn to coaching leaders who operate from this place.

The qualities that make you exceptional at serving others — empathetic awareness, systemic thinking, authentic presence — also make you exceptionally responsive to coaching. You’re already committed to continuous improvement. You instinctively understand that leadership isn’t a destination but a journey. All that’s missing is extending to yourself the same care and investment you so naturally offer others. 

Let’s Connect

Investing in your own growth pays dividends across your spheres of influence. Your team, organization, family and community all benefit when you lead not only from a place of service, but from a place of sustained and evolving excellence.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to connect to explore how coaching can help you prioritize yourself and amplify your impact. Grab time on my calendar here for a no-cost, no-obligation Chemistry Session to see if we’re a fit.