Starting today we're going to get our toes in the water on the three shortages I regularly see in leadership: service, servitude, and stewardship. Honestly, there are MANY leadership shortages. I'm just looking at these 3 over the next three days.

You should know my bias. Leadership isn't about position. It's about service. Let's frame some context around this.

You own a business. Or perhaps you're a CEO or executive leading a team. You have a title and a position of authority. That's the boss element of your identity. I'm not diminishing that, but that's not what we're talking about today. Being the boss is about the position, but that's not leadership. So today, separate these two things in your mind. And do that again for the next few episodes this week because I'm not talking about your authority, your power or your capacity to make decisions as a boss.

Great bosses are also great leaders, but not all great leaders are bosses. Since you are a boss it would be ideal for you to excel at both being a boss (having authority) and being a leader (serving with positive influence). It's a tough chore being both, but it doesn't need to be impossible.

Service is aimed at helping others. It's action-oriented. That's why I picked it first. We can sit around and think of stuff, but it's infinitely more profitable to do stuff. Doing helps us figure it out.

I heard Joe Rogan talk about starting his stand up comic career. He talked about how there's only one way he knows to get into that business or to get good at it. Do it. Stink at it. Get better. Stink some more. Improve. He pointed out that there are no books, classes or coursework. You learn from others, but mostly you learn by doing it yourself.

Leadership may work best the same way. Do stuff...for others!

Self-serving leadership isn't leadership. It's just selfishness.

The big gap in leadership is the ability and willingness of people to get their mind and attention off of themselves and onto others. It's a gap in the ability to recognize when people need help, when they need encouragement, when they need recognition, when they need something you could supply to help them. Not because it advances you, but because it advances them.

That's the service you should provide to everybody who reports to you. If you own the joint or you're the CEO then it should be service you provide to everybody in the company. If not on an individual level then through whatever hierarchy exists in your organization.

Let's forego talking about why you should do this. If I need to convince you why you should do this, then you're that interested in this podcast anyway. I'm not your cup of tea. Instead, let's talk a bit about HOW. How do you serve?

Rather than dive into specifics which wouldn't likely serve to help you, let's pull back and think more globally. Let's fly to a higher altitude so we can see the bigger picture.

It's about people. Question: how would you characterize the problems you've experienced in life? Can you possibly do that?

Not likely. Because life is complicated and our problems, challenges, and opportunities are all over the board.

"Well, people's personal problems aren't my area. I don't have any business going there."

Is that true?

Your right-hand person tells you it appears they're headed toward a divorce. They're wrecked. What are you going to do? Tell them it's none of your business? Tell them it doesn't pertain to the company so you'd prefer to not discuss it?

If you're an uncaring jerk you may. But you're not. So you won't. But what will you do?

You'll serve this person. Their life and this problem will become a priority for you to help them in whatever way you can.