Defining your legacy

What is your legacy? It’s a question we need to reframe.

To many, legacy is tied to achievement. Earning the award, developing the patent, coming up with the breakthrough discovery. Those are worthwhile pursuits, to be sure.

But to me, legacy is something different.

It’s tied to people, relationships and long-lasting impact.

I think back on the last several years and the challenges we all faced during the pandemic.

I had several reports with difficult personal situations at home, and they needed to see their family. I’d let them take the leave (even if they had already used up their allotment) or work out of their location for as long as needed so they could fulfill their obligations and have peace of mind.

Or I reflect on team members in the past who struggled with confidence.

Maybe they felt less of themselves because their work wasn’t as good. Maybe they weren’t comfortable speaking up because English wasn’t their first language. I would go out of my way to encourage and support them in channeling their energy towards improvement and growth. I saw magic happen as a result – the level of personal growth and their capacity to perform reached new levels. It was a thrill for me.

To be clear, I am not “special” because of these moments. None of them are particularly noteworthy.

I share these simply as examples of what “legacy” can look like in practice, and to shine a light on the opportunities we all have.

Consider the times when you can:

• Support a direct report through a tough time
• Encourage someone to believe in themselves
• Prevent someone from making an avoidable mistake
• Help elevate someone’s career and life to a new level

Yes, big achievements are nice, but ultimately they don’t compare.

Small acts of kindness, being human and sometimes bending the corporate norm is what builds long lasting relationships. These won’t show up in performance reviews and your manager may never notice, but do them consistently over the years and you’ll earn trust, respect and eventually a legacy you can be proud to leave behind.