A Leader's Legacy

1. Leadership is about service and sacrifice, not personal gain

We will work harder and more effectively for people we like. And we will like them in direct proportion to how they make us feel.

Service-oriented leadership inspires commitment and performance. The best leaders focus on meeting the needs of their constituents rather than their own self-interest. They are willing to make personal sacrifices for the greater good of the team or organization. By putting others first, leaders earn trust, loyalty, and discretionary effort from their people.

Sacrificial leadership demonstrates that you have the best interests of others at heart. It sends a powerful message that you're not in it for yourself. Examples of leadership sacrifice include:

• Giving credit to the team rather than taking it yourself
• Staying late to help an employee meet a deadline
• Taking a pay cut to avoid layoffs
• Making an unpopular decision for the long-term good of the organization

2. The best leaders are teachers who develop others

The best way to learn something is to teach it to somebody else!

Leaders as teachers multiply their impact by developing the capabilities of others. Great leaders view every interaction as a teaching opportunity. They take time to explain the "why" behind decisions and strategies. They provide context and share lessons from their own experiences.

Effective leadership development approaches include:

• Mentoring and coaching programs
• Job rotations and stretch assignments
• After-action reviews to capture lessons learned
• Storytelling to transmit knowledge and values
• Creating a culture of continuous learning

By investing in developing others, leaders also develop themselves. Teaching forces leaders to clarify their own thinking and deepen their expertise.

3. Effective leaders seek feedback and embrace "loving critics"

If you never ask for feedback on your behavior and on how your behavior affects how others are doing, how can you really expect to align your words and your actions over the long haul?

Seeking feedback is crucial for self-awareness and growth as a leader. The best leaders proactively ask for honest input on their performance and impact. They view feedback as a gift, even when it's difficult to hear. "Loving critics" - those who care enough to tell hard truths - are especially valuable.

Ways to solicit feedback:

• Regular 360-degree reviews
• Ask "How am I doing?" in one-on-ones
• Create psychological safety for candid input
• Model openness to criticism
• Thank people for constructive feedback

Leaders should pay particular attention to feedback on how their actions affect others' performance and motivation. This allows them to adjust their approach for maximum positive impact.

4. Every manager is the most important leader to their direct reports

You are the most important leader in your organization.

Direct managers have the biggest influence on employee engagement, performance, and retention. While C-suite leaders get more attention, an employee's immediate supervisor has the most impact on their day-to-day experience. Great managers:

• Provide clear expectations and feedback
• Remove obstacles and provide resources
• Recognize and develop their people's strengths
• Connect individual work to larger purpose
• Build trust through consistent actions

As a manager, you can't pass the buck on leadership. Your direct reports are counting on you to lead, regardless of what happens higher up the chain. Take ownership of creating a positive team culture and developing your people.

5. Leadership requires building trust through consistent actions

Trust is the social glue that binds human relationships.

Building trust is essential for leadership effectiveness, but it can't be taken for granted. Trust must be actively cultivated through consistent, ethical behavior over time. Leaders build trust by:

• Following through on commitments
• Admitting mistakes and showing vulnerability
• Giving credit to others
• Listening with empathy
• Being transparent about decision-making
• Demonstrating competence

Trust can be easily damaged by inconsistent words and actions. Leaders must be vigilant about aligning what they say and what they do. When trust breaks down, go back to basics - open communication, delivering on promises, and putting others' interests first.

6. Exemplary leaders empower others and let go of control

The more you control others, the more likely it is that they will rebel.

Empowering leadership unleashes the full potential and creativity of people. Micromanagement stifles initiative and breeds resentment. Great leaders:

• Delegate authority along with responsibility
• Allow autonomy in how work gets done
• Encourage calculated risk-taking
• Provide a clear vision but let others determine how to achieve it
• View mistakes as learning opportunities

Empowerment requires trust and can feel risky for leaders accustomed to control. But it ultimately leads to higher performance, engagement, and innovation. Start small by delegating a project and resisting the urge to intervene unless absolutely necessary.

7. Leadership starts with self-awareness and personal values

Leadership begins with something that grabs hold of us and won't let go.

Self-awareness is the foundation of authentic leadership. Leaders must first understand their own values, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations before they can effectively lead others. This requires honest self-reflection and a willingness to seek feedback.

Key questions for developing leadership self-awareness:

• What are my core values and beliefs?
• What energizes and inspires me?
• What are my blind spots and development areas?
• How do others perceive my leadership style?
• What kind of leader do I want to be?

Clarifying personal values provides an internal compass to guide decisions and actions. It allows leaders to act with integrity and inspire trust.

8. Leaders must be forward-looking while staying grounded in the present

Being forward-looking is not the same as meeting the deadline for your current project.

Strategic thinking is a key differentiator of leaders. They must anticipate future trends and possibilities while also executing in the present. Effective ways to cultivate a forward-looking perspective:

• Regularly set aside time for long-term planning
• Stay informed about industry and global trends
• Encourage diverse perspectives and creative thinking
• Use scenario planning to prepare for different futures
• Balance short-term results with long-term sustainability

At the same time, leaders can't get lost in the future at the expense of current operations. They need to toggle between big-picture strategy and day-to-day execution.

9. A shared vision comes from listening to constituents' aspirations

It's not just the leader's vision that leaders are accountable for enacting. Leadership isn't about selling your vision; it's about articulating the people's vision.

Collaborative visioning is more powerful than top-down approaches. The most inspiring visions emerge from listening deeply to the hopes and dreams of constituents. Leaders should:

• Hold focus groups and listening sessions
• Ask open-ended questions about desired futures
• Look for common themes and shared aspirations
• Articulate the vision in emotionally resonant language
• Continually refine the vision based on feedback

A shared vision creates alignment and motivation. People are more committed to a future they helped create. Leaders should see themselves as facilitators of the visioning process rather than its sole architects.

10. Leadership is a skill that can be learned and developed by anyone

The more we attribute leadership to a set of innate character traits, the more we abdicate our own responsibility to become the best we can be.

Leadership development is a lifelong journey of learning and growth. While some may have natural leadership tendencies, the core skills can be cultivated by anyone willing to put in the effort. Key ways to develop leadership capabilities:

• Seek out stretch assignments and new challenges
• Find mentors and role models
• Read widely on leadership topics
• Practice self-reflection and journaling
• Ask for and act on feedback
• Teach leadership skills to others

The "born leader" myth is disempowering. Anyone can improve their leadership effectiveness through deliberate practice and a growth mindset.

11. Courage is essential for leaving a meaningful leadership legacy

Courage is the virtue that's needed if we're truly going to transform our lives.

Courageous leadership means taking principled stands in the face of adversity. It requires moral strength to do what's right rather than what's easy or popular. Examples of leadership courage:

• Speaking truth to power
• Making unpopular decisions for the greater good
• Admitting mistakes and showing vulnerability
• Challenging unethical practices
• Taking calculated risks on bold new directions

Courage isn't the absence of fear, but rather the ability to act despite fear. Leaders can cultivate courage by:

• Clarifying their values and ethical boundaries
• Building support networks
• Starting with small acts of bravery
• Reframing failures as learning opportunities
• Connecting to a larger purpose beyond themselves

Courageous leadership leaves a lasting positive impact that outlives the leader's tenure.

Last updated: March 28, 2025