You want to ensure your legacy...

Leadership is about more than just making decisions and delegating tasks – it's about leaving a lasting impression on the organizations and people you work with. But that's easier said than done. Leaders often face challenges like conflicting visions, limited resources, and resistance from others, that make it hard to create a legacy they can look back on with pride.

Five common concerns of leaders thinking about legacy

  1. 'Legacy' sound good, but it's a vague notion: You need to be clear what you want to leave and what you want to be celebrated for.
  2. Potential successors may have other ideas: They may resist your long-term vision, making it harder to achieve.
  3. No time to spare: Day-to-day demands make it hard to focus on legacy building.
  4. Not enough support: To really leave a legacy, you need the resources to make changes happen. Without them, it can be tough to make your mark.
  5. Fear of being grandiose: This one isn't a problem for everyone (!) but many people will say to themselves, "Who am I to be thinking about my legacy?" Such thoughts needlessly hold them back from making a lasting impact.

L.E.A.D. For Legacy framework

The good news is that with the right approach you can overcome these barriers and leave a legacy that you'll be proud of. In Andy's forthcoming book – L.E.A.D. for Legacy – he interviews leaders with enviable legacies and distills the learning in a form that other leaders can also use. The leaders range from CEOs of public companies, and founders who made successful exits, to ambitious mid-career executives still very much in the building phase. The book's not ready yet, but a framework is emerging.

L.E.A.D. For Legacy Framework

L.E.A.D. is a four-step framework for building and leaving a proud leadership legacy:

  • Listen and learn: Build relationships and seek feedback so that your successors have a stake in continuing your vision.
  • Embody your values: Lead by example to transmit the values that will sustain the organization. 
  • Act with purpose: A great legacy doesn't just happen. It needs to be consciously planned and pursued.
  • Develop Others: Mentor potential successors, provide tools and resources, and encourage them to take the lead. Get them in shape to take the baton.

By attending to all the elements of the L.E.A.D. methodology, leaders can leave a lasting impact on their organization and the world around them.

Subscribe below and we'll keep you up-to-date with insights, suggestions, invitations to webinars and other ideas. And if you want to hear yourself think out loud about your legacy, request a call with Andy for a zero-pressure chat.