The Inner Work of Servant Leadership - Knowing Yourself, Your Vision, And Your Strength

Leadership is often portrayed as a relentless pursuit of service. We hear phrases like “servant leadership” and “lead from behind” as guiding principles. If you've been in Christian circles for any amount of time, you've undoubtedly encountered the analogy of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. This moment is held up as the ultimate display of humility and selflessness in leadership.

The Bible recounts how Jesus stooped down to serve, then turned to His disciples and said, “I’ve given you an example that I didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and you should do as I do and serve.” (paraphrasing)

We take this to heart. We run ourselves ragged (until burnout occurs) in the pursuit of service, pouring into others, sacrificing time and energy, and pushing through exhaustion in the name of being a “good” leader. But here’s the part that so many overlook: just before Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, the scripture makes an important distinction. It tells us that Jesus, knowing that He had come from the Father, that He was returning to the Father, and that the Father had placed all things into His hands, stooped and washed the feet.

That detail changes everything.

Before Jesus humbled Himself to serve, He was already grounded in three fundamental truths: He knew where He came from. He knew where He was going. He knew what He had been given. He was able to serve because He wasn’t grasping for identity, purpose, or validation.

And that is the true secret of great leadership. It isn’t just about serving others; it’s about doing the inner work first—knowing yourself, having a vision, and leading from confidence in your purpose. You cannot lead well if you are constantly questioning yourself, doubting your direction, or believing you are unequipped for the task.

As leadership expert John Maxwell so powerfully put it:

“You cannot give what you do not have. If you do not know yourself, you will struggle to lead others.”

SERVANT LEADERSHIP IS EASIER

Imagine you’re leading a group of people into the jungle at night. You have two choices.

You could show up at dusk, gather everyone together, give an impassioned motivational speech, list your credentials, and say, “You better follow me, or someone could get hurt!” You can rely on persuasion, urgency, and authority to push them forward.

Or, you could go out three or four hours early, carve a path through the wilderness, set up lights along the way, and leave provisions at key checkpoints. Then, when you return to gather the group, you simply say, “Hey guys, let’s go up the mountain.”

The first approach relies on convincing people to trust you. The second earns their trust before you even speak.

Great leaders do the work ahead of time. They prepare the path. They anticipate challenges. They remove obstacles. And because of that, people naturally follow.

But the First Step Isn’t about Strategies or Processes. It’s about Something Deeper. If You Don’t Know Who You Are, Where You Are Headed, or Whether You Are Truly Capable, Your Leadership Will Always Feel Unstable—Both to You and to Those Who Are following You.

People are drawn to confidence, but not the kind that is loud and forceful. True confidence comes from security in one’s identity and purpose. It is the quiet, steady presence of someone who is not grasping for approval, but instead serving because they know they were meant to.

KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING

A leader without vision is like a ship without a rudder—drifting without direction, subject to every current and wave. And when a leader lacks clarity, their team feels it.

Before Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, scripture makes it clear: He knew where He came from, where He was going, and that He had everything He needed. That’s why He was able to serve with such certainty.

Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why, once said:

“People don’t follow you because of what you do. They follow you because of why you do it.”

The best leaders don’t just delegate tasks or set goals. They create a clear and compelling path forward. They know exactly what they are building, what impact they want to make, and why it matters. That kind of certainty is magnetic. People will follow a leader who knows where they are going, because it gives them confidence that they are headed somewhere meaningful.

Without that, people feel like they’re wandering aimlessly. And few things are as demoralizing as following someone who seems lost themselves.

YOU ARE ALREADY EQUIPPED

One of the greatest struggles leaders face is imposter syndrome. That little voice in your head that whispers, You’re not ready. You don’t have what it takes. You’re not qualified to lead.

But remember—someone already believed you belonged in a leadership role. You were placed there for a reason. The opportunities in front of you aren’t coincidences.

Jesus wasn’t second-guessing Himself before He stooped to serve. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t need validation. He already knew that God had placed all things into His hands. He already had everything He needed to fulfill His purpose.

And so do you.

If you wait until you feel ready, you’ll never move. If you wait for someone else to validate your leadership, you’ll always feel uncertain. Your qualifications are not just in what you know, but in the fact that you were called to lead.

LEADING FROM FULLNESS

It’s easy to burn out as a leader. You give, give, give—until there’s nothing left. And often, you tell yourself that’s just what leadership requires. But that’s a mistake.

If you know where you come from—your background, experience, and values— If you know where you are going—your vision and mission— Then you will never lead from depletion. You will lead from overflow.

Think of the generosity you see at a buffet versus a five-star plated restaurant.

At a fine dining restaurant, you have one plate, carefully arranged. You might let someone have a bite, but you won’t offer food to the entire table—let alone to the people at the next table over.

But at a buffet? You give freely. You know there’s more than enough.

This is the difference between serving from emptiness and serving from fullness. A leader who is running on empty is hesitant, drained, and constantly protecting what little they have left. But a leader who is full—of purpose, of clarity, of confidence—gives generously and abundantly.

THE LEADERS WHO CHANGE THE WORLD

The most powerful leaders don’t just rush around trying to serve out of obligation. They do the inner work first.

They know who they are. They know where they are going. They know they are fully equipped.

And because of that, people trust them, follow them, and grow under their leadership.

Servant leadership isn’t about proving yourself. It’s about being confident in your identity, your vision, and your ability to lead well.

So before you lead others, take time to do the inner work. Know yourself. Know your mission. Know that you are already equipped. And when you serve from that place of clarity, people will follow.

Next time you serve, do it from fullness.