Planful about your Leadership Legacy

I have been a Professional Speaker and Executive Coach for over 20 years, but I've never received an introduction like this one from Planful CEO, Grant Halloran.

I am humbled that I have had an impact on Grant's career and also vicariously on all the people that he impacts. The synchronicity that he has recently renamed his company Planful, meaning rich in plans - is not lost on me.

Planning a Legacy

The dictionary tells us that legacy (n) is:

"Something that is a result of events in the past"

But, when I am working with leaders, leadership teams or MBA Students, I tell them that Leadership Legacy (n) is:

"The actions you take NOW that impact the future"

The emphasis is on the now. Legacy happens in the now, we don't have to wait until the future, we create our legacy with the planful intentional behaviors we enact today. Intentional behaviors are at the heart of Self-leadership.

Self-leadership and Legacy

Self-leadership is defined (Bryant & Kazan 2012) as:

"The practice of intentionally influencing your thinking, feeling, and actions, towards your objectives."

So we begin with an intention and we end up with an objective. This might remind you of the first habit of Stephen Covey's, 7-Habits of Highly Successful People:

"Begin with the end in mind"

What if, instead of starting your day anxious or distracted, you reflected on what you wanted to achieve before the day's end?

What if, instead of only thinking about what you wanted, you reflected on who you could positively influence or impact?

Leaders love Winning

You don't get to be a leader in any field without a focus or a love of winning. However, once you become a leader, to have legacy, your intention must change. Your intention must be to help others to win. The others could be your employees and/or your clients. 

"You can have anything in life you want, providing you help enough other people get what they want."

I love this quote from the great Zig Ziglar, it helps us focus on how to truly leverage our impact in life and business.

So be planful, resourceful and even scheming if you must - but be intentional and be impactful. You will not have to wait until your eulogy to see, feel and know , the difference you make to other people. 

As Grant, shares in the video, we met 20-years ago when he was a 'young punk CEO' and I was at the beginning of my career as an Executive Coach. At that time, I had know idea of the impact or legacy I would create, but I was very intentional that I would focus on helping my clients be successful.

Now as a mentor to upcoming speakers and coaches, I'm often asked how they can get the recognition I now enjoy. My answer:

"Focus on becoming the best version of you, so that you can do your best work"

So, what will be your leadership legacy? Please share in the comments below.