Leaving a Leadership Legacy
March 27th, 2008 | 
Author: Much of the work I do, particularly with 45+ year old executives, is concerned with discovering what they want to leave behind (or be remembered for) in their organizations and communities. We take the time to reflect, clarify and write a statement about their personal leadership legacy.
I am occasionally asked what this individual legacy statement has to do with the organization they lead. EVERYTHING! Finding that insight can create a sense of inspiration and purpose that becomes focused ouward toward those who are lead.
A wonderful book on this topic is called “Your Leadership Legacy” by Galford and Maruca. They make a good case for starting to think about this topic earlier in a career, and provide exercises that assist in developing a legacy statement.
There is also a self-assessment at the site to help you discover your “Instinctive Leadership Style”.
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Mary Jo, what a wonderful way to inspire people to survey the landscape of their leadership in a fresh way. To consider what one wants to “leave behind” and to imagine a great legacy, draws on a person’s intrapersonal intelligence. in this case you use that tool to strengthen all the other leadership tactics connected. No wonder it works:-) Great post and thanks for inspiring the rest of us!
Ellen, thanks for your perspective; I hadn’t thought of it that way. Going through this exercise of “what do you want to leave behind” also has a great energizing effect for those who may be bogged down in unpleasantness and negativity.