Leaders Eat Last

During my early years in the military, I learned a valuable lifelong lesson: leaders eat last. As an ROTC Cadet, I watched active-duty soldiers line up for the chow ahead of us because our instructors emphasized that aspiring leaders should always prioritize their troops. It didn’t matter how hungry we were or if the steak was gone; the military custom dictated that the interests of those we served always take precedence over our own.  
This tradition is both literal and figurative, practiced in both the cafeteria and the corporate boardroom. While a leader steps back in line during a meal, they are the first to face a challenge. If you are a paratrooper stick leader in a C-130, you are the first one out the door when the green light flashes. If you are a CEO with a team working through the weekend, you are the first to turn on the office lights and the last to turn them off.  
Robert Greenleaf defined this mindset when he introduced the term servant-leader, implying that a leader’s main purpose is to serve their followers. This approach is characterized by a clear motive, mode, and mindset. The leader serves because they lead, placing the followers’ needs above the organization’s, and acts as a steward who shifts focus toward the people within the team. While leaders may use different styles—such as authoritarian, participative, or transformational—depending on the situation, these methods do not exclude someone from being a practicing servant-leader.  

Adopting servant leadership in your company is essential because it reverses the traditional power structure. Instead of employees only serving the leader’s goals, the leader’s role is to support and provide resources for the team to succeed. This shift encourages a culture of shared authority and emotional bonds, which are crucial for long-term achievement. When you embrace the “leaders eat last” mindset, you build a loyal team motivated to exceed expectations and achieve organizational goals. Your position in the hierarchy ultimately influences how you lead, think, and act.
To lead effectively, one must embrace the role of a steward, intentionally shifting one’s focus to the people within the organization rather than the organization itself. A true servant leader shares power and prioritizes the needs of their team and family first, helping individuals develop and perform at their highest potential. By reversing the usual approach so that the leader serves the people, you create an environment where employees feel valued and emotionally connected.
Embracing the “leaders eat last” mindset is not just a military custom; it is a transformative way to lead, think, and act that builds deep loyalty and motivates teams to surpass expectations. Now is the time to commit to these principles and lead with a service-oriented mindset—so let’s get started!
COL Paul A. Raggio (Ret.) is the owner of Five Star Leader Development and an executive business coach who helps C-Suite executives, business owners, and their management teams improve in leadership, management principles, and best business practices. Contact him to achieve exceptional results at paul@fivestarleaderdevelopment.com or call and text at (252) 571-7368. Visit his website at https://fivestarleaderdevelopment.com.