Selfless Service: A Leadership Imperative from Sheriff Chad McBride

Sarabeth Stone
Jan 6
3 min read

Updated: Mar 6

By Sarabeth Stone

When organizations face unprecedented challenges in attracting top talent and maintaining a competitive advantage, the principle of selfless service can offer a powerful framework for success. Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride identifies this concept as a core value and a major part of the department’s culture under his leadership.

In his presentation to the South Carolina Christian Consortium, McBride articulated how the principles of selfless service naturally extend beyond law enforcement into corporate leadership.

Defining Selfless Service in Leadership

Selfless service in leadership looks no different than it does in everyday life. It requires prioritizing the needs of others above our own personal gain. This servant mindset transforms how we approach our responsibilities. Rather than viewing leadership as a position of privilege, it becomes a platform from which to steward resources and relationships.

Sheriff McBride, who leads 527 personnel including 364 sworn employees, endeavors to embody this principle in what can be an extremely challenging field.

“We see a lot of evil in what we do,” continued Sheriff McBride. “It could harden our hearts if we let it. But if we maintain our posture in Jesus, He enables us to serve well even when days get long, or we walk into very dark situations. Personally, I pray every morning after my time in Bible study. I ask God to fill me with the Holy Spirit. While this job is my passion, I couldn’t do it without Him.”

The Tangible Benefits of Selfless Service

The Anderson County Sheriff’s department exemplifies the concrete benefits of a selfless service culture. The office is currently 100% staffed—an extraordinary achievement given the ongoing personnel shortages in police departments across the nation. In addition, the 13% pay increase Sheriff McBride negotiated with the County Council reflects his dedication to his team's wellbeing, which only strengthens their capacity to serve Anderson County residents.

“Leadership is really about stewardship,” Sheriff McBride added. “As Psalm 24:1 reminds us, The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and all those who dwell therein. Responsible leadership is really about the stewardship of what and who God has put under our care.”

Business leaders who operate principles of selfless service remain intently focused on advancing the welfare of those we serve—whether that's our families, communities, employees, or customers. As Sheriff McBride demonstrates, focusing more on those we serve and less on our own personal gain can have very real benefits. From higher financial returns to happier employees, and even future business deals, looking out for the “other guy” produces good fruit in the long run.

To cultivate a culture of selfless service, business leaders can:

Model service-oriented behaviors consistently
Create systems that prioritize stakeholder needs in decision-making
Invest in employee growth and well-being
Extend organizational resources to address community challenges
Recognize and reward integrity, honesty, and selfless actions throughout the organization

Service-Centered Leadership: A Blueprint for Excellence

The principles of selfless service provide a north star for business leaders, and the benefits extend not only to our own organizations but also the broader communities we serve. As Sheriff McBride's example illustrates, when leaders prioritize the welfare of others over personal gain, we help to create cultures of trust, engagement, and purpose. This approach better enables businesses to attract and retain talent while carving out a sustainable competitive advantage. It also mirrors the heart of the God who came to serve rather than to be served (Matthew 20:28).

Sarabeth Stone is a wife, mother, and freelance writer residing in the Upstate. Her background centers around public affairs and communications work with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit entities, and organizations from a variety of industries.

Located in the Upstate, The South Carolina Christian Consortium connects South Carolina’s small business community with likeminded leaders. We host monthly luncheons where experts from a variety of industries come to encourage, equip, and educate you as a business levader. Come rub elbows with state and local elected officials, business owners, University leaders, and more at our events.