Insights
“Achievement comes to people who can do great things for themselves. Success comes when they lead followers to do great things for them. But a legacy is created only when leaders put their people into a position to do great things without them.”
- Dr. Glenn Agung Hole
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, legacy becomes a poignant reflection for us at Sera Business Advisors. All sorts of questions come up: Will our projects be remembered? What about our accomplishments? Are those the important things? How about the way we impacted our clients, our co-workers, friends and other people?
If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that over time, your job becomes less about your area of expertise and more about your sphere of influence. Why? It’s because people are ultimately the product, and how you impact and shape their experience defines your legacy.
If you’re not thinking about what you’ll leave behind when your career is said and done, it’s time to start. The long-lasting impacts of your daily actions, attitude, decisions, and words, are the guideposts for others to follow.
Let’s dig in.
If you define your legacy as your achievements and stop there, it won’t feel like a legacy, it’ll feel like a resume. Achievements are only part of the three elements that make up your legacy:
Imagine walking into your workplace years after you've moved on. What do you see? People thriving, projects flourishing, a culture that’s vibrant and dynamic? Your legacy lives on in these moments, not just the tasks you’ve completed.
Being a leader isn’t a 9-to-5 gig. It’s a 24/7/365 journey. True leadership requires prioritizing your development alongside your health, happiness, and purpose. It’s about setting a precedent and transforming from just “the boss” to an inspiration.
Here are two examples of legacy in leadership:
What do each of them have in common? They focused on their businesses’ biggest asset–its people. Focusing on people sets the standard for what leadership can and should be. It’s how you truly transform an organization and the broader world around it.
Think about your company’s culture and your personal interactions with individual employees. Does culture only exist in HR manuals and on the website, or is it alive, breathing in the hallways, conference rooms, and even virtual meetings?
Imagine your values being the touchstone for authenticity of decisions made in your absence. When you embed a vision into your organization's foundation, you’re setting a course for the future.
Let’s take a look at the impact of two more leaders:
No leader mentioned herein is without their controversies, but undeniably, they built, shaped, and solidified strong, enduring cultures. What do their legacies show? Prioritizing people and culture lays a foundation that will last long past your tenure.
A true legacy is built on achievements, impact, and cultural influence. It isn't grown overnight, and it isn't by accident. One's legacy requires intentional effort and personal responsibility. I call this the “My career is my responsibility” effect. How you shape your career and choose to impact others will define the legacy you leave behind.
We can’t all have a Warren Buffett legacy…and that’s a good thing. So what can we do? We can make a difference by building legacies of leadership that focus on the people around us.
Not sure where to start? Here are some questions to help you determine your legacy:
Reflect on your journey. Visualize your legacy. I encourage you to take steps today that will shape tomorrow. As you navigate your leadership journey, remember your day-to-day interactions and the support you offer to your team will define how you’re remembered.
Sera Business Advisors is a management consulting firm specializing in HR with a business-first approach. Sera fosters growth and strategic development through training programs, an extensive library of proprietary tools, and a deep understanding of business for emerging startups, middle market companies, and publicly traded companies. To learn more, visit seraadvisors.com.