Serve the City: How Small Acts of Service Transform Leaders and Teams

Send us Fan MailHave you ever been part of a weekend that you know you’ll carry with you forever?In this conversation, Nathan is joined by Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring to reflect on their time in Brussels celebrating the 20th anniversary of Serve the City International—a global movement built on a simple idea: many people doing small things together can make a big difference.Leaders from 35 countries across 6 continents gathered to mark two decades of kindness in action. Linda and Brian opened the event with their keynote experience, “Unfolded: The Transformative Power of Serving,” and led a breakout session on how to approach challenge, change, and uncertainty as leaders who serve.In this episode, they talk about:The energy of bringing together leaders from around the world who are deeply committed to serving their citiesWhy they began the conference with a mindfulness practice—a shared moment of stillness, open hands, and collective breathingHow acts of service shape leadership: rolling up your sleeves, being in need, and receiving helpWhat 3.5 million volunteer hours and 10 million lives impacted in 2024 say about the power of consistent, small actionsHow Carleton Deal and the Serve the City team use simple, repeatable phrases (“serving revolution,” “cross the line,” “know them by name”) to create a scalable, sustainable movementThe idea of volunteers as “hope artists” in a world filled with uncertainty and negativityTheir breakout session on challenge, change, and uncertainty, and how to help leaders remember the internal certainty they already carryWhy serving outside the office can unlock deeper compassion and care inside the workplaceWhat it takes to sustain a volunteer movement for 20+ years—and why the Serve the City vision will continue long after its foundersThe episode culminates with a powerful quote Brian and Linda wrote in a Paris café as they prepared for their time in Brussels:“When we serve with open hands, we create a space for something to land.”Key Themes & Topics:Serve the City International – 20-year anniversaryServing with open handsLeadership and serviceChallenge, change, and uncertaintyGlobal volunteer movementsSustainable vision beyond the founderCompassion, kindness, and team cultureMindfulness and preparation to serveThe “map” metaphor for navigating life and leadershipChapters:01:30 – Weekend overview: Serve the City in Brussels03:30 – The global energy: Leaders from 35 countries and 6 continents05:30 – Guided mindfulness and open-handed stillness09:00 – How serving transforms leaders and teams12:00 – Many people doing small things together16:00 – Service, compassion, and the business context17:30 – Breakout: Challenge, change, and uncertainty22:00 – How you sustain a movement for 20 years24:00 – Carlton’s phrases and the DNA of a serving revolution27:00 – Vision for the future & the ServeNow app29:20 – Final takeaway: Our hands need to be unfoldedCall to Action:Learn more about our work helping leaders and teams build positive culture at Leadership Vision Consulting.Reflect with your team: What does “serving with open hands” look like in your context?Share this episode with someone who leads a volunteer effort, nonprofit, or team in transition.Support the show-Read the full blog post here!CONTACT USemail: [email protected] FacebookLeadership Vision OnlineABOUTThe Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.