What kind of legacy will you leave?

As a leader, you have been born for greatness! And yes, much has been written on the topic over the years, however, when have you last thought about the legacy you will be leaving behind? What is it that people in your workplace and those outside of it – your family, friends and acquaintances will remember you for? 

In this short heart-to-heart talk, we will be looking in the mirror and consider the footsteps we are leaving in the sand as leaders...


You can’t do it on your own
“If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants” – Isaac Newton
“You alone can do it, but you can’t do it alone” – Alice Cooper

Bring forth greatness!
“The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there” – John Buchan
“When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!’” – Lao-Tsu

Create the vision!
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea” – Antoine de Saint Exupery
“A leader’s role is to raise people’s aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there” – David Gergen

Be humble!
“Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well” – Dwight D Eisenhower
“Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self-importance” – James Humes

Listen to others!
 “The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them” – Ralph Nichols
“The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention” – Richard Moss

Develop others!
“Leave everyone a little better than you found them” – John L Mason
“Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals” – Unknown

Acknowledge mistakes as a learning opportunity!
“Mistakes are just part of our growth. The only people who never fail are those who never, never try” – Og Mandino
“Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power “ – Hugh White

Care for others!
“People do not care about how much you know until they know how much you care” – John Maxwell
“Great leaders genuinely care for and love the people they lead more than they love leading itself. Leadership without love degenerates into self-serving manipulation” – Rick Warren

Each one of us is called to make a difference. We work in organisations where the focus rightfully is the vision and its realisation in measurable outcomes to ensure continued profitability and sustained business growth. As leaders it is about the difference we bring that lies between the vision and the outcome; it is echoed in the words of Shannon L Alder: “Carve our name on hearts, not tombstones.”  It is about being part of a legacy … of sharing dreams and changing humanity for the better.

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago” – Warren Buffet 

Until next time!
Hein

www.rothassociates.com.au