Do the Laundry - Great Leadership is Servant Leadership

Do the Laundry

“If service is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you.”
— John C. Maxwell

Being a coach, being a leader, it’s not a reward. It’s not a corner office with a better view or a title that exempts you from the daily grind. It does not entitle you to certain perks or a simple life. It’s a burden… but it’s one of the greatest burdens you’ll ever carry. 

You weren't just hired, you were chosen for this role because someone believed you had the ability to carry the weight and responsibility of the position…and all that comes with that!  That you could stand tall when the pressure got thick. That you wouldn’t flinch when everyone else folded. That you could carry that burden of responsibility to maximize your potential as a leader and those around you. Leadership doesn’t lighten your load, it adds to it.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "Whew, I’ve made it. My hard days are behind me. I can coast now."  Most likely not! But in the same vein, have you neglected small details that somehow seem frivolous with all that you are responsible for. Do you expect others to take more slack because you have this title or position? Have you ever leveraged your position to somehow get you out of the responsibilities or duties to lead?  That’s the moment you’ve stopped leading. That’s when you become a placeholder, not a difference-maker. That's the day you were no longer the right person for the position. 

You get the privilege of being the first one in the building and the last one to leave.
You get the privilege to stay up late, the privilege of agonizing over every missed detail.
You get the privilege to carry the stress of the loss, the weight of the decision, and the sting of the criticism.

But guess what? Those are the real perks of the job.

Not the paycheck.
Not the title.
Not the seat at the table.

The work is the reward.
The weight is the honor.
The frustration means you still care.

The only perks you get is that you get to work, do more, and out work everyone!

And here’s a hard truth most won’t say out loud:
If you’re too big to do the laundry, you’re too small to lead. People need to see true leadership in action... every day, every time! There are no days off, no short cuts from leadership, it doesn't work that way!

Because true leadership is servant leadership. 

Here’s the trap too many leaders fall into: “I don’t have time for all that stuff". The day-to-day, the routine, the grunt work? “That’s for somebody else now.”

Wrong. Leadership doesn’t exempt you from the basics, it anchors you to them.

The great leaders….They know the power of showing up early, staying late, picking up trash, making the calls, sweeping the locker room, and shaking every hand in the building. Not because they have to… but because they get to.

You don’t get too big for the little things.
You lead by modeling the little things.

That’s not micromanagement. That’s ownership.
That’s investment. That’s what separates the leaders from those that just occupy the position.

You didn’t earn the right to stop doing the dirty work.
You earned the honor and privilege of still being trusted with it.

Don’t Forget the Steps That Got You Here

You didn’t just wake up in this position. You climbed here. One thankless task, one late night, one practice plan, one tough decision at a time. You were hungry and eager to do anything to further the mission, help the program, and elevate the situation. 

Because somewhere out there, there’s a young coach, an aspiring leader, a future you, grinding through those same exact steps. Watching. Learning. Hoping. See how you as their leader handle those situations. Praying that one day they get their shot and being the leader.

Don’t take this role for granted.
Don’t take the privilege of leadership lightly.

Do the damn laundry. Pick up the cones. Clean up the locker room. Return the parent calls.
Do the stuff no one sees, because that’s the stuff that still matters most.

Leadership doesn’t allow you to escape the work, it’s about remembering what a privilege it is to still be in the middle of it.

Final Word:

If you want to wear the title, carry the weight.
If you want to lead, serve.
If you want to build something that lasts—do the laundry.