Without fail, every year there are turnovers, promotions, and mergers. Companies downsize and seasoned veterans retire. There is a host of new leaders ready to take the reins. But, how can the most sophisticated leaders among us really step into center stage?
Our leaders often leave huge footprints to fill. Many people step up or are helped up. Regardless, our leaders should leave a trail of bread crumbs for the next generation of leaders to follow. Business people do it by cultivating protégés. Parents are committed to legacy-building by nurturing their offspring.
So, what are the best ways for our leaders to really pass along their wisdom to rising leaders? Several considerations for legacy-building come to mind.
One is to emulate behaviors and attitudes. This is a sure-fire way to reinforce high-quality leadership. Take for example how my family tradition sending handwritten thank you notes. It is done without question or reservation. Just this small courtesy goes a long way in the minds of those who readily lend support. If more future leaders took time to replicate the little things like this they might just learn the essentials for creating followers.
Also, leaders today need to leave a road map. Sure, there is something to be said about learning the ropes and cutting your teeth. There is something to the premise of making sure that our next generation of leaders learn the basics for themselves. But, without proper support or direction as they begin their journey the endpoint could be a dead end. Or worse, they might have to follow the worst-case-scenario such as going directly to jail without collecting $200 as noted from the popular board game Monopoly.
Finally, without sharing more about mistakes along the way history is destined to be repeated. Everyone makes mistakes or faux pas from time to time. But, an essential for every successful leader is passing along the lessons learned. My insights within Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success are those points exactly. Highlights from the best but also details from some of my lowest points are described in hopes that my experiences might help our future leaders.
Thank goodness for those leaders who got the memo. Glean from your experiences what can be passed along. Period! So, all you real leaders out there who really want to be remembered for their legacy…can you please pass the leadership baton?
-Dawn McCoy, author of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success
