Decades of research confirm what great leaders have always known: loyalty must be earned, not demanded.

Studies on Servant Leadership show that when leaders prioritize their team’s well-being, employees respond with trust, commitment, and a willingness to step up when it matters most. Research from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School found that ethical, service-oriented leadership strengthens team loyalty, while authoritarian leaders foster only compliance, not true commitment.

The Power Paradox, as described by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, reveals that leaders who serve others gain lasting influence, while those who demand loyalty through fear ultimately lose trust. History—and psychology—show that true loyalty is earned by those who lead with integrity, vision, and care.

This is how my husband and I ran our restaurant.

Unfortunately, we had to close due to post-Covid difficulties. In our final weeks, we were fully booked every night—not just because people loved our food, but because they wanted to dine with us one last time and say goodbye.

To prevent our team from becoming overwhelmed, I reached out to former employees, asking if they’d be willing to come back just for one last shift.

I wasn’t sure what they’d say. Some had moved on with new jobs.

Every single one of them said, “For you, I’d do anything.”

And they did. They showed up and helped us carry those last few weeks with strength, grace, and laughter.

On our final night, it wasn’t just the guests who came to say goodbye. A group of former employees returned—not to work, but to throw a Farewell Party for us and our team.

That’s what real loyalty looks like.

Loyalty isn’t given—it’s earned. What’s one way you’ve earned the trust of those you lead?

~*~

This is one of my Big Ideas posts—where I explore how new ideas, good science, creativity, and bold leadership can help us build a better world. I believe ADHD leaders have the empathy and creativity to solve the world’s biggest problems, and I want to support as many of them as possible as they step into leadership. Take what resonates, and make it your own.

Servant Leadership & Team Loyalty
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School:
https://carey.jhu.edu/articles/ethical-leadership-strengthens

Power Paradox & Leadership Influence
UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/power_paradox

Leadership, Trust & Primate Social Structures
UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/political_primates