Leaving A Leadership Legacy

What do I want my leadership legacy to be? That is a question that I have been asked. I have never stopped and thought about how I want me to be remembered as a leader and what I want to leave behind. A leader's legacy is more about the significance of what the leader has done instead of the success of the leader. A leader's legacy remains with an organization after the leader has gone and what the leader has accomplished remains and continues on.


In the leadership class I am currently enrolled in, I have been exposed to wide variety of leadership theories and approaches. As of today, I have studied thirteen theories or approaches to leadership and there are two more to go.



Can a person be a leader simply by their job position? Yes, but does not always mean people want to follow you.  In the 5 Levels of Leadership, John Maxwell describes this as level 1, positional leadership. People follow you because they have to. People can also follow you because they want to. John Maxwell calls that level 2 and the people following you have given you permission to lead them and they will follow because of the relationship you have with them.

Can a person be a leader when they are part of a team? Absolutely. When you are part of a team, especially an effective team, the members work together to identify problems and find solutions.

Can someone be a leader when they are helping and encouraging others? Yes. A supportive leader is one that is empathetic, shows concern, and treats employees with dignity and respect. If you are using those characteristics to help and encourage someone, wouldn't that make you a leader?

I have had the opportunity to assume leadership roles and I have learned something new every time. I have made mistakes, we all do, but I try to learn from my mistakes. I believe I learn best not only when I step out of my comfort zone but also when I make mistakes. I have always thought that the story of the butterfly teaches a very important lesson. Sometimes it is the struggle and not the destination that is the important step.

Does any one style describe the type of leader I have been or want to be? No. My style is a combination of many leadership theories and approaches. It is unique just as I am unique. When people think of me in terms of leadership, I would like for them to think of me as being helpful, approachable, encouraging, a team player. I want people to follow me because they want to and not because they have to. I want to be approachable so that when there is something I need to change, someone will bring it to my attention.

So what about my leadership legacy? I think I want it to be that I put the needs of the organization and fellow team members before my own needs. I have had the opportunity to coordinate and assist writing the bylaws and policy & procedures for a nonprofit organization. It was very rewarding work and they remain in place and are amended as needed. I would like to be remembered as someone who when I see a need in the community or an organization that I work to find a way to fill that need. I would like it to be that through my actions I was able to make a difference for others. I will not be successful 100% of the time, but it is a goal to strive for.

What will be your leader legacy?

I would like to thank Craig LaBorde for giving me permission to include his photographs as part of my blog.

--Kathy