Guest Blogger #2: Daniel Smith 
This week, I am proud to feature Daniel Smith as our guest blogger.
In his guest blog, Leading By Serving, he shares how a class project helped him understand that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room. It is about listening, encouraging others, and helping the whole team grow. Daniel did a great job reflecting on servant leadership in action.
**LEADING BY SERVING**
I’ve been the leader of a group several times in the past, but I really didn’t understand what leadership was all about until I took a public speaking class. Our teacher gave us a big assignment. We had to make a 20-minute speech, but it had to be interactive. We got the choice to make a video, and that’s exactly what my teammates and I chose.
At first, the whole class felt stressed and confused. Some didn’t like talking on camera. I understood our next steps, while others remained frozen in confusion. I directed the group, although my leadership appeared to others as an unspoken authority. It was more of a look after everyone and keep them calm, focused, and working together kind of thing. That was the point at which I realized the true meaning of servant leadership.
Instead of ordering people around, I found out that it is better to listen first. I asked the team members to share what they were comfortable doing. One was excited about making questions for the podcast. There was also someone who had a talent for hosting and being in front of the camera.
As for me, I don’t mind any of the tasks, but I certainly enjoy editing videos. When I listened first, my teammates opened up more. They felt that their opinion was valued. That is one of the major aspects of servant leadership: the leader puts others first so the entire team can achieve higher performance.
Being empathetic is another major aspect of servant leadership. I had to employ that several times during this project. Some teammates were scared to talk to the camera, so I kept encouraging them and helping them practice the lines until they were comfortable. Others were unclear about the script, so I explained it in detail to them. However, I didn’t do their work. I only made it easier for them to do it on their own by giving them confidence.
I understand leadership as something that is not about simply being the loudest personality in the room, but rather about helping people to the point where they can shine as well. I made sure everyone knew the deadlines. I checked in when someone fell behind. I tried to keep the energy positive when things got stressful. There were moments when the podcast felt impossible to finish, but staying calm helped the team stay calm too.
My leadership of the group started when I dedicated myself to serving its members. The team underwent a complete transformation after I switched my attention from controlling them to serving their needs. People started taking more ownership of their work. They shared more ideas. They worked harder because they felt supported, not pressured. The final video podcast turned out way better than we expected. It wasn’t perfect, but we were proud of it because we built it together.
This initiative has also transformed my understanding of leadership altogether. I used to think that leaders must always be in front, talk the most, and make all the decisions. I realize now that genuine leadership can be achieved quietly and unnoticed by giving others a helping hand toward success.
Servant leadership is not about having a soft or weak character. In contrast, it actually strengthens the entire group. It encourages trust, cooperation, and mutual respect. And truthfully, it even feels better. It feels more human and more authentic.
So how does servant leadership manifest itself in daily life?
It is all about asking your team what they need and not dictating to them. It is about helping a person to go over their part when they are scared. It is about giving a little extra time when things don’t work out. It is about raising people rather than trying to keep control of everything.
Sometimes, it is a group of students making a 25-minute podcast and gradually learning to cooperate. Servant leadership is not about having authority. It is about enabling others to give their best. And when you realize leadership in this way, everything turns out to be different.
Daniel Smith
BIO: Daniel Smith is a concurrent student at Cloud County Community College and Southeast of Saline High School and plans to graduate in 2026. He hopes to pursue a degree related to the career field he is assigned to in the Air Force. Outside of school, Daniel enjoys graphic design, marketing, social media, watching soccer, and spending time with family and friends as he continues building a future he can be proud of.
