What will be your leadership legacy?

In my September newsletter, Marketplace Masters™, I began a look at the future of the professional services marketing function.  For my October issue, I plan to take a deeper look at this issue -- that of our Leadership Legacy, which I believe will shape the future of our profession. 

Most of us clearly understand that we must meet expectations that are really not our own — shareholder expectations, board expectations, market expectations.  But what about your own Leadership Legacy?  Have you thought about your hopes, goals, desires, and expectations for creating an impact on your firm?   

As the authors of the new book, Your Leadership Legacy: Why Looking toward the Future will Make You a Better Leader Today, Rob Galford and Regina Maruca, say:

“Legacy thinking is about the day-to-day. What decisions am I making today? How am I spending my time? How am I acting? How am I influencing others’ thinking/behaviors/outlook today? Am I satisfied, even happy, with my actions and the effect I might be having on others today?”  Regina Maruca

“Your legacies are defined by others. But right now, without huge effort, you can gain enough perspective about yourself to see how those legacies are taking shape, and you can try to influence them for the better.”  Rob Galford

You are leaders in the field of professional services marketing, and your own leadership legacies will indeed shape the way the profession will evolve.  Would you be willing to share with me a sentence or two -- with attribution -- that summarize the hopes and aspirations you have for your impact on others, and the actions you'll take to bring them to fruition?  In return, prior to the newsletter's publication, I will share with you how your remarks will be portrayed in context with others, for your final approval.

Thank you for your help on this important initiative.

Comments

[Andy Klemm]

Suzanne:

It strikes me from reading much of what you have written that you contemplate this issue and others to depths that are uncommon even as I have observed in company CEOs who are manifestly concerned with legacy. This is to your credit, especially as it may cause others to aspire to new levels of awareness and purpose.

Keep up with what you are doing.

Andy Klemm