What do you think about that statement?
It is one of my favorite things to share with audiences and leaders around the country. Because story telling is a powerful leadership ‘technology’.
I think every leader wants to leave a Legacy.
They want to know that what they did, what they said, who they are, meant something. They made an impact. They made a difference in the people around them – they ARE making a difference!
When I think of legends, I think of the great stories told of grand leaders in history. The Founding Fathers of American history are Legends. The Biblical men and women of valor are Legends. You may consider renowned musicians, writers, cultural or industrial icons to be Legends. And many are.
So, this leads back to, ‘how do stories build legends?’ And why do legends then become legacy?
It is the stories we hear of the great leaders and icons, that create the legends surrounding them. Maybe, even, over time, the stories have grown…. similar to that 2lb bass you caught as a kid; now it’s a 25lb man-eating river monster……or so you tell your own children.
In this same way our organizations can also become legendary. We find the stories that we hear, learn, share, or participated in, and those become the symbols of who we are. They become the ‘cultural’ iconic stories that we share with staff and customers about who we are, what we are all about. They are values in action.
Your organizational values describe who you are, what you do, how you behave, interact, etc. When we share stories of our teams doing those things, build the legend. Do this over periods of years, and you have legacy.
If one of your values is Respect, then maybe you begin to look for employees who exhibit such values. When you see this value in action, you capitalize on it by sharing that ‘story’ in your meetings, emails, newsletters, and onboarding. It gives others an opportunity to visualize what RIGHT looks like, what GOOD looks like, how that value is acted upon.
Organizations are learning that using stories is a powerful leadership learning “technology”. What is being rediscovered is what ancient cultures have known for millennia–stories are a powerful, certainly they are unique methods used by vibrant organizations, and the absolute best leaders.
Do you need to share data? Use a story along with the numbers. Stories are sometimes considered, “data with a soul”. It helps people connect to the information.
For example: (this is only hypothetical not real data or story)
- 6 months ago my blood pressure had increased during my recent checkup relative to the year prior. So, I started an exercise program for all the men and women at work who are over 50 years old, because I learned that only 1 in 4 men, and 1 in 5 women, over 50 regularly exercise. The health statistics also show decreased heart problems, kidney problems and stomach problems. So, now, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we have an exercise group that meets in the morning 2 hours before work. Interestingly it was so popular, even the ‘young’ folks are joining us. It has boosted our productivity and camaraderie at work.
Had I only shared the data…..and not connected it to the people, we might not have grown in the way we did, or connected people this way.
So……
How does your organization become Legendary? What legacy will you leave in your wake?
Here’s a start:
I think stories are so important that:
- Each staff or executive leader meeting should start with a story. Share the good things that are happening.
- Each one told should tie to one or more of the values of the organization.
- Each one talked about your organization should include the true heroes and leaders of the organization, people that inspire others. They should relate to your customer or client base.
- Each one should give others a real clear vision of who you are, what you are about. It should be a realistic vision of what your culture is truly like….or what you hope it will be like.
What is your legacy, and upon which legend are you building it?
LeadershipTen’s goal is to create leaders who BOLDLY impact their world…..that is legacy. If you would like to know more about how we can help you become Legendary……..let us know below.
