Leadership Legacies

For most of us the word "legacy" conjures up images of wealth through accumulated assets (money, marketable securities, properties and the like) that are passed on when someone dies. But is the measure of our worth as leaders only found in the numbers and columns that make up a balance sheet? Shouldn't we also bequeath our values, experiences, and learning from a lifetime of work and relationships? The essence of living well is captured by Ralph Waldo Emerson in this quote, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

A dear friend and mentor of mine, Willard Shisler, passed away in March 2001 after a painful battle with bone cancer. His life embodied my vision of legacy and at his passing I was inspired to write a poem in his memory. The family shared it at his memorial service and it has been published in a couple of local newsletters as well. Today I have decided to share it with the global community hoping to inspire persons in leadership to pay closer attention to the legacy you are building that will one day speak volumes about your own character.


If Wisdom Had a Face

If wisdom had a face, it would be like his.
The dignified air of wispy white hair and whiskers to match;
Eyes sparkling with life, casting a knowing glance, occasionally brimming with silent tears;
A chiseled brow sculpted by years of toil and hours of meditation, but never furrowed long;
If wisdom had a face, it would look like his.

If wisdom had a voice, it would be like his.
Heavy with a Pennsylvania Dutch accent, sometimes hesitant but always strong;
Bestowing with passionate resonance beliefs held long and running deep;
Humble words of encouragement, spoken with conviction and compassion;
If wisdom has a voice, it would be like his.

If wisdom were a song, it would sound like his.
Chords and melodies rich in composition, ancient tunes with modern arrangements;
Sweet hynms of faith, cherished for their memories and vision;
Sung with a steady, metered beat for eighty-nine faithful years;
If wisdom were a song, it would sound like his.

The face is gone, the voice is silent, the song an echo in the air.
But wisdom is what he left for us to ponder;
Love is what he gave for us to share;
Hope is what he offers for tomorrow;
And we will not soon forget.

If wisdom had a face, it would look like his.

Wouldn't it be remarkable if each of us dedicated ourselves as leaders to creating a legacy of work and conscious leadership that taught the leaders we mentor what we have learned about wisdom, love, and hope? That's what Willard did for me and I am eternally grateful. I still miss you "old friend".

Practicing Silence

I doubt if anyone would argue with me that we are inundated daily with more information than we can handle. Most of us struggle to deal with the multiple demands on our time - voice mail, email, meetings, cell phone calls, text messages - enough already! Does knowing more and getting it faster make us better leaders? Who among us has the capacity or stamina to keep up? Does one have to be Superman or Superwoman to be truly effective?

Leaders have a special responsibility to inspire those we serve and it is difficult to be inspiring when our heads are exploding. How many of us have a daily routine that includes pausing to listen and reflect? One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." Regardless of your faith perspective this is prescriptive advice for today's "do everything" mentality of leadership. It is in the silence that we can listen - to our hearts, to our family, to our employees, and to our customers. Taking a deep breath, clearing our minds, and waiting for a word from God is the only way we can recharge our mental and emotional batteries. Meditating and reflecting heightens our awareness of what really matters, allows us to sort through the clutter, and rebuilds our capacity to serve. Silence heals, renews, and cleanses us so we can absorb new ideas, connect more closely with what and whom we love, and experience the presence of God in a personal way.

I confess that practicing silence isn't easy for me. My brain tends to race in a dozen directions at first but, if I am disciplined to wait and listen, eventually my spirit succumbs to the sweet music of the Soul - to the sound of silence. It is at these moments that God can speak (even shout at times) and I am finally ready to hear the message. There is energy in this place of quiet reflection. Silence is the place where faith flows freely, where wisdom has a voice, where dreams are birthed, and possibilities are imagined. Revisiting this special sanctuary every day can transform how we as leaders perform. More importantly it can change who we are.

Robert Greenleaf offered this key question for us to ponder: "In saying what we have in mind, will I really improve on the silence?" How would the persons you love and serve assess your leadership if they were asked this question? What would my own clients, colleagues, family, and friends say about me? Perhaps we all need to turn off our cell phones and abdicate our email in-boxes. Let's reconnect with the human spirit by meeting with and listening to each other. Could practicing silence actually improve the silence when our message is finally delivered?

Developing Future Leaders

This past Tuesday our local chamber of commerce sponsored a "Let's Do Lunch" program that pairs business volunteers with local fifth grade classes in our public and private schools. The business buys a pizza lunch for the students and the representative spends about 45 minutes sharing with the class about their career. I was assigned to a local elementary school just a few minutes from my office and thoroughly enjoyed my time with the students. The visit prompted me to think about what every organization needs to do in developing future leaders.

Fifth graders are naturally curious and deceptively insightful. Throughout my time with the class the students were engaged in the activities I had planned, eagerly asked questions, and quickly responded to questions I posed. They weren't afraid to risk a "wrong" answer or to offer an opinion. I found this refreshing and wondered how many organizations have created an environment where this same level of vulnerability while learning is encouraged. In my leadership and management training classes I work hard to foster this type of learning atmosphere. Students soon discover that their challenges and mistakes are shared by others. Real growth as a leader takes place when you are willing to tell each other the truth and learn from it.

Students discovered that their perceptions about careers, like mine, aren't always accurate. They didn't realize that lifelong learning and loving what you do makes a difference in one's career. Are your current and future leaders well-suited for their responsibilities (in other words do they love what they do)? Are they committed to learning new things about themselves and their team? My experience with these fifth graders reminded me how much I love what I do and why I am so interested in the learning process.

These eleven and twelve year old's represent the future of our organizations. Will their current level of enthusiasm for learning stay with them through high school and college? What can we do to capture their imaginations and connect their classroom theory to real life experiences? A 45 minute annual visit won't be enough to keep them engaged. How is your enterprise investing in its leaders? Are you deeply committed to training and leadership development? Do you model a love for learning to your employees? Do you encourage learning at every level of the company?

One of the inherent joys in my work is seeing leaders grow and learn, in spite of their age or level of responsibility. If you aren't investing in leadership development as an organization perhaps you are the problem. Maybe you should visit with a fifth grader and rediscover what it feels like to be uninhibited, inquisitive, and full of possibilities. Give your cynicism the day off and think like a kid again.

Creating a Truthful Culture

One of my clients recently told me about a difficult decision he had to make about one of his employees. During the conversation he thanked me for telling him the truth when he had asked my advice about this situation during a previous meeting. His courageous actions were a result of being confronted with the facts by someone he trusted to tell him the truth. While grateful that my advice made a difference in this case, I am reminded of the times when playing "fast and loose" with the truth has been my first choice.

One doesn't have to look far to find evidence that leaders don't make truth-telling a priority. There are daily reminders in the media where ads blare a message followed by a burst of fine print or fast talk to satisfy the legal department, where carefully crafted press releases and sound bites follow indictments of public officials, and where political rhetoric has replaced any efforts to present the facts. Could it be that we have unwittingly created a culture that rewards those who lie? Do we as leaders contribute to this dysfunctional system?

I know from recent personal experience how hard it is to accept the truth, especially when being confronted with it by someone you trust and respect. But that conversation was a catalyst in my life, personally and professionally. It has been nearly two months since a good friend challenged me with the truth. His vulnerability and courage was what I needed and with God's help I have made some significant changes. It hasn't been easy - surrendering our will never is - but what a difference it has made!

I have discovered that telling the truth can inspire myself and others. On more than one occasion I have shared my story with others, encouraging them to join me on this journey. I am consciously aware during each conversation of times when it might be easier to cheapen the truth or ignore it altogether. Being courageous enough to tell the truth as I see it hasn't been an easy route to take. Yet, the results have proven rewarding and my clients, colleagues, and family will all benefit if I can create a truthful culture in my business and personal life.

Perhaps you have your own stories of truth-telling to share. If so, please offer your comments to this piece. Pearl Buck is quoted as saying, "The truth is always exciting. Speak it then. Life is dull without it." Is it time to liven up your professional and personal life? Telling the truth might be just the prescription you are looking for.