“How can I help?” — It’s a simple question, but one that’s carried me further than most job titles or credentials.

We help others because it fills something within us—true. But real help isn’t about making yourself “feel” useful; it’s about “actually” being useful.

In business, asking “How can I help?” isn’t a performance. It’s a prompt for action.It’s an act of leadership—quiet, service-oriented, and rare.

Years ago, I read a tactic that opened my eyes:

Find what your boss hates doing—or what they spend the most time on.Figure out how to take it off their plate.Document your plan.Share it with them.Act on it.Report back on it, weekly.

It sounds simple. It is. That’s why it works.

The best people reduce load. They show up with solutions, not problems. They subtract from the chaos instead of contributing to it.

The question scales. It works with your boss, with your peers, and with your team (or “direct reports,” though I’ve never liked the phrase). You can lead in every direction if you start from this place.

But—like all good habits—it’s easy to forget. Busyness creeps in, and the instinct to help dulls. This is a reminder to sharpen it. To make it a rhythm. At least once a week, ask:

How can I help?

It’s a better question than “Can I help?”
The latter invites a one-word answer.
The former invites collaboration.