What kind of legacy are you leaving?

Before you try to answer the question about the legacy you’re leaving, first consider which legacy you want to answer for.

You are, in fact, leaving more than one legacy.

1️⃣ There’s the legacy we often think about. What do you want people to say about you at your funeral. That’s definitely worth considering, but it’s broad enough that there are a couple of others that may be more helpful to think about.

2️⃣ You will also leave a legacy at your workplace. The higher you rise in leadership, the more of an impact you’ll have – for good or not-so-good. How are you investing in the development of those who will come after you? Are you modeling both the professional and personal values that will lead to success, both for your organization and those who will be there after you’ve pivoted or retired?

3️⃣ Finally, you will leave a legacy for your family. That legacy includes both how they remember you and what kind of people they become as a result of your influence. How are you influencing your children and grandchildren, if you have them, or your nieces or nephews?

I have attended the funeral of a work colleague, along with others in senior leadership positions. When people from the workplace, including the CEO of the company, spoke at his funeral, they didn’t talk about his impact on the workplace. They talked about how clearly he demonstrated how much he valued his family.

So with all of that to consider, I’ll go ahead and ask the question.

What kind of legacy are you leaving?