What it Means to Serve

A term that gets thrown around frequently in the business world is customer service. It seems to have become more of a department name or maybe even a way to describe helpfulness. But what about that second word, service. What does it really mean to serve someone?

It Starts with Humility

To serve another person requires one to be thinking of another’s needs — needs that may not even be recognized by those we serve. If we don’t serve with humility it’s not going to feel much like service to those who receive it. It might become quite the opposite. But even if their needs are met and problems are solved, there is a higher standard to be met. What if our service made those we serve feel appreciated and cared for? The irony is that the more we serve others in genuine humility, the more fulfilled we become. It’s a win-win situation.

A Thankless Job

Sometimes the work we do is under appreciated by others. True service means we continue in service even when others don’t notice or don’t seem to care. But this doesn’t mean the work is unimportant. There are jobs that would start to be noticed in their absence. If health inspections didn’t happen, the public would start to notice. We do the job because it is the right thing to do. It betters our communities; it keeps the public safe.

Knowing People

When one gets really good at serving others, he or she starts to anticipate needs or wants. To do this means one starts to really know a person. How good does it make you feel when you feel like another person “gets you”? Well, that is a pretty good measure of being served in humility and may it be a goal of anyone wishing to serve well. Figure out what someone wants and needs before they even know it themselves.

Take Action

The thing about service is that it is more than just a way of thinking, it is action. For it to be real, it has to be seen and felt by those who receive it. Sure, keeping it top of mind is part of serving well but it takes discipline to make it happen in tangible ways.

An Honorable Job

The job of a food establishment health inspector probably goes unnoticed by most of the public. The job itself may be invisible but the outcomes certainly are not. This is just the understated, humble work that makes for the highest form of service. Thank you for keeping us safe.