Lead so that others can eat

The hunters returned victorious. After a long day tracking their prey, they finally brought down a deer big enough to feed the whole tribe. People rushed in to celebrate. There was joy, hunger, excitement. But then came a simple, human question: Who eats first?

In a tribe of 100 to 150 people, like our ancestors lived, everyone can’t just grab what they want. Chaos would follow. So how do you decide who goes first? It turns out, nature already gave us the answer.

Sometimes we act like leadership is a modern invention. A job title or a political role. But long before companies and governments, humans were forming hierarchies.

Why? Because without order, the strongest would take everything, and the weaker ones consisting of the elders, the children, the “soft ones” — would suffer. Trust would break. Community would die.

So instead of fighting, we developed something deeper: respect.

We learned to step back when someone was stronger or more capable, to let them lead, to let them eat first. And in return, those leaders helped protect the rest of us.

That’s the real beginning of leadership. Not power. Responsibility.

Today, our “tribes” have changed. They’re no longer in forests or fields. They’re in offices, classrooms, markets, WhatsApp groups, and boardrooms.

But the dynamics is still the same.

Every group has its own culture, its language, its symbols, its leaders. Some groups feel like family. Others feel like survival. And just like our ancestors, we still look for someone to take the lead. Not the loudest. Not the flashiest. The one who carries the most responsibility with the most care.

Even companies want to be seen as leaders — the best in their space, the top of the food chain. Just like individuals, they want respect. Position. Status.

But the question is always the same: Will you use your position to serve others — or just serve yourself?

Because the true alpha isn’t the one who eats first. It’s the one who makes sure everyone else eats after.

Leadership is not about having all the answers. It’s about showing up, again and again, with the courage to take responsibility. So whether you’re a manager in an office, a teacher in a classroom, a firstborn in your family, or just someone others look to for strength, ask yourself: Who am I leading? And what kind of leader am I becoming?

Kindly share and leave a comment. Have a wonderful weekend folks.