People talk. The perceptions that drive the conversations about you in your team and organization are a reflection of your brand identity with people. Your brand is your legacy, the story people tell about us when we aren’t around or when we’re gone. You’re not immune; we all leave a legacy, a reflection of our ‘unique leadership brand.’ We leave a legacy at the end of a meeting or conversation, at the end of a career within a team or organization, and at the end of our lives.
The primary question for leaders is whether our legacy will be by default or by design. It is a daily, almost minute-by-minute choice. If you can’t say what your legacy is right now, it’s happening by default. You might want to do something about that. Remember, people talk.