A true leader must be willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of those they lead. They must be prepared to lead by going the extra mile, hence, putting the team’s needs before their own. Leadership demands selfless commitment, and the team is always watching, ready to reciprocate with their dedication and results when they witness their leader’s sacrifices. When a leader sacrifices for their team, they cultivate loyalty and trust. Team members must be sure that there interests are protected.
Sacrifice is the seed that a leader must sow to reap the loyalty of their team members. A true leader should not indulge themselves while their team members are uncertain of their own circumstances. Sacrifice is the price leaders pay to build trust and earn the unwavering loyalty of their followers. Leaders must place the needs of others above their own desires, demonstrating to their team that their interests are protected and prioritized. Delayed gratification should be top on the list of a leader’s routine.
In some cases, after witnessing their leader’s consistent sacrifices, team members will be inspired to make their own sacrifices for the leader’s benefit. However, before a leader can expect such devotion, they must have repeatedly proven their willingness to be there for their team, no matter the personal cost. Only then can a leader truly earn the trust and loyalty that exceptional leadership demands.
Many years ago, I led my colleagues from the chemical engineering department on an excursion over 500km away from our university. After visiting the first company, our vehicle broke down on the second day, stranded on the road between two states. We had to seek refuge in a guest house for the night, cramming ourselves into the limited rooms, with eight people sharing a single room. As the leader of the team, I insisted on sacrificing my comfort by volunteering to sleep overnight in the bus.
Although my colleagues eventually resisted this notion, my willingness to put their needs before my own demonstrated true leadership through sacrifice. It is one of many such events that gained me the unwavering trust and enduring loyalty of my friends and colleagues to this day. A leader’s sacrifice, no matter how seemingly small, resonates deeply with those they lead.
In that moment of adversity, I could have easily claimed one of the room’s beds for myself as the leader. However, true leadership demands putting the team first, even when it means personal discomfort or hardship. By sacrificing my own comfort, I showed my commitment to their well-being, earning a level of respect and loyalty that transcended that single event. You must be ready to take care of the needs of your followers, even at the expense of your own needs. This is what will make your followers loyal to you.
In the office, are you a line manager who throws their team members under the bus, or do you stand up for them, even at personal cost? A sacrificial leader takes the time to understand their team’s actions and advocate for their concerns before higher authorities, rather than solely trying to impress superiors.
A leader who sacrifices is willing to go without while ensuring their team members are taken care of first. Do you indulge your own needs while your staff’s salaries remain unpaid? In governance, does your sacrifice extend to prioritizing projects that benefit the collective good over those solely advantaging your village or family? The true test of a leader’s sacrifice is continuing to serve others’ interests first, even when it means personal deprivation. Do you ensure civil servants receive their rightful pay and pensions before claiming your own salary and entitlements? When resources are limited, do you willingly forgo your benefits to provide for your constituents first?
If your answers reflect a consistent unwillingness to sacrifice your own comfort and interests for those you lead, then gaining their trust and loyalty will be an uphill battle. Leadership demands the courage to put others first through personal sacrifice – without it, you simply cannot expect to inspire the devotion great leadership requires.
In leadership, loyalty is not free. There is a price to pay to get the loyalty of the people you lead. The price is sacrifice.