Sometimes it takes a thought-provoking question to make us stop and reflect on what we want. One question I love and enjoy asking leaders of all stages of their leadership journey, whether they have been in a leadership role for a long time or are evolving in their leadership, is “What legacy do you want to leave as a leader?”

The leader often pauses and says, “That’s a great question. I do not think I have stopped to think about this.” I reassure them that this response is quite normal.

Leaders have been focused on achieving results, performance, and productivity. Achieving results is what many leaders get promoted for not usually the leaders they develop within the organization.

Imagine if leaders started their careers thinking about the legacy they would like to be remembered for. Leaders are acquired for their knowledge, talents, skills, and abilities with a history of achieving results. Do we think that future leaders are developed through osmosis or solely based on observation? No, not likely.

As leaders reflect on this question, I often see a concentrated look turn into a big white wide smile as they describe the difference they want to make in the lives of the people they serve and the mark they want to leave in the organization. They start speaking passionately about building capacity, innovation, and creativity in overcoming perceived, potential, and real barriers standing in their way on the road to success. They talk about a collective and collaborative approach to achieving results while leveraging each other’s strengths. I cannot help but smile back as I get caught up in their enthusiasm for their leadership legacy.

If you are reading this and thinking to yourself, “I don’t know what legacy I want to leave as a leader.”

Consider the following questions:

What values are most important to me?

What qualities and characteristics do I want to role model?

In what ways, would I prepare a future leader while leveraging their unique gifts?

What stories and lessons do I want to impart to others to save them time, money, or resources?

Using my gifts, what difference would I like to make in the world?

As a leader and a coach, I feel a sense of obligation to ensure that people not only share their unique gifts; I want to ensure they do not hold themselves back from stepping into their potential and making the difference they have been called to make. I believe it is a privilege to be a leader, I have the opportunity to walk in front and walk from behind. Most of the time, I am walking alongside the people I lead. We learn from each other. We learn by doing and reflecting. We create a safe space to open up conversations and brainstorm ideas. Together we achieve results.

The most important aspect of defining your leadership legacy is knowing that as a leader YOU matter. Your legacy matters. It will live on for generations to come in the leaders you lead and those who lead after them in the stories, lessons, and the impact you make.

Stop, pause, and take a moment to think about the leadership legacy you want to leave. Where is your focus, attention, and intention to achieve this outcome?