Leadership - What kind of Legacy will you Leave?

Author: lee stemm

Barrry Everingham, a Melbourne-based writer, has been a commentator and writer on the British royal family for 30 years. In the ""Australia"" dated April 21 st 2006 he wrote this - ""Princess Diana in death did what others had been trying to achieve for decades. She changed the face of the monarchy forever. The principal players seem more human and caring. But underneath, the rumblings of republicanism are boiling away in England and Australia. ""

When I read this and realized that Princess Diana had died september 1st 1997, over 8 years ago and still her memory is carried on. She stood for her ethics, demonstrated her values and contribution as a leader. She had the abiltiy to touch a nation's spirit and as she gained more confidence within her role, she won the hearts of the people.

I stoped for a moment and started to reflect on my life, what kind of legacy would I like to leave? I know that when you have purpose, direction and a sense of meaning in your leadership that you will rise to the occassion. Integrity has a high influence value that leads to high standards and expectations. Leaders can give up anything except responsiblity, either for themselves or for their organisations. Diana, took up her responsiblities and faced the challenges that were in front of her with grace and determination.

At times today, I feel that too many people are ready to assert their rights, but not to assume their responsibilities. Anthony Robbins said, 'don't let yourself be victimised by the age you live in. It's not the times that will bring us down, any more than it's society. There'a a tendency today to absolve indivdulas of moral responsiblity and treat them as victims of social circumstances. You buy that and you pay with your soul. What limits people is lack of character. ""When the character of leaders is low, so are their standards.""

What kind of standards do you have? What kind of legacy would you leave? Every leader has certain expectations for himself as well for the organisation. You may have never writeen them down. Take time now to list the standards that you maintain for yourself and for your organisation. What in your life is non-negotiable?

Steps to develop your legacy:

1. Take a few moments and write down your roles as you now see them. Are you satisfied with that mirror image of your life? Explore your roles within your career, family and relationships. Look at what contribution you make and what achievements are important to you. 2. Set up time to completely separate yourself from daily activities and to begin to work on your personal mission statement. 3. Go through your principles within your career, personal, health and relationships - are they the same or are they inconsistent. Do they form a pattern for the behaviour in your life? Are you comfortable with the implications of your analysis? 4. Start a collection of notes, quotes, and ideas you may want to use as a resource material in writing, your personal mission statement. 5. Identify a project you will be facing in the near future and apply the principle of mental creation. Write down the results you desire and what steps will lead to those results. 6. Share the principles of starting with the end in mind, with your family or work group and suggest that together you begin the process of developing a family or group mission statement.

Integrity results in a solid reptuation, not just an image

About the author: Lee Stemm specializes in developing leaders to gain the strategies to listen and communicate strategically and non-defensively. free mini-course six pillars of self esteem - http://www.inspiringexcellence.net