Leadership, Legacy, and Living a Life of Significance. PART 1.

“Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way The time is gone the song is over -thought I’d something more to say…”  Pink Floyd–Time

What will they say at your funeral?  What would you want them to say?  THAT will be your legacy and it will be too late to start working on your life of significance at your memorial. You can begin TODAY to work toward a “life legacy” and really make a positive difference!

How do you leave a legacy of positive leadership?  Who doesn’t want to leave a positive legacy?  Leadership and legacy means being PROACTIVE — being the first to:

- Take the initiative to communicate.
- Set the standard-leading by example.
- Managing, planning, resourcing, and serving those around you.
- Identify vision, goals and priorities.
- Take responsibility and saying (and living) “The buck stops here”.
- Leaders press on and press in; they run counter to the culture of convenience or opinion.

Think about your personal leadership… See life as a chance to identify your purpose, position, passion, and posture and then begin to live as though your life makes a real difference—because it does! Show your quality…

1. To Impress or to Influence?

Would you rather impress someone or truly have an influence in their life? Impressions are on the surface;  therefore, they are often superficial. Influence, on the other hand, is often real, honest, and requires far more time, patience, resources, and relationship. Influence necessitates communication with people and the cessation of self-absorption. Start with being more about others and less about you and you WILL influence others.

2. Your Life’s Lessons.

Many of our life’s lessons are made up from our experiences, relationships, and mistakes. Have you been honest with your fears, failures, frustrations, and feelings? Can you safely share these with others who can benefit from your mistakes? This is the stuff of legacy!

Your hardships serve to shape your life’s message. That life message consists of a spiritual component, your life’s lessons, passions, and mission. Most of what we call failure can be transformed to tangible lessons we can share with those we love. Thus, pain is transformed to purpose and passion when we share transparently about life’s lessons.

 

3. Your Disposition.

Is your disposition credible, vulnerable, real, and genuine? Do you act and speak with genuineness and transparency in the way you treat others? Are you believable, touchable, straight up, humane, and do you have integrity? Are you “legit” as my kids say? Are you the real deal or a phony?  Can we see the “real you”…?  Who are YOU anyway?

4. Leadership’s Purpose.

People are the priority. Are you able to connect with people and are you a relationship builder? Do you serve and meet needs? Do you truly love other people unconditionally? Can you allow love to define your purpose and thereby your leadership legacy? Can you love and forgive yourself first? Are you a good communicator both in reaching out and listening?

5. Posture of a Legacy Leader.

Do you live in a mental posture of being open, teachable, and always learning? Are you able to lose preconceived notions ideas and attitudes? Do you walk and live in the art of possibility in your day-to-day living? Can you be a life-long learner or do you get stuck in old paradigms and ruts of thinking about life? Have you hung up your “cleats” or “thrown in the towel” as far as learning/living new stuff in life?

6. Passion and Legacy.

Passions define leadership. What are you passionate about? Are you a spokesperson for your passions? What causes, groups of people, or issues do you champion? What would you do for free if it were possible? That is your passion. Who/what do you weep for?  This would be a great place to start living with intentionality and building your legacy.

7. Your Mission in life=People.

Do you want to leave a legacy of love for those around you?  Then invest yourself in quality relationships with people. Be an example to follow. Serve others. Be communicative and relational with those in your life, world, and network. Press in and take the initiative.

8. Leadership and Adversity.

Leaving a legacy of leadership and living a life of real significance means facing and overcoming adversity. How you deal with adversity defines you. Are you bitter or better?  You will need faith to face your challenges. You can come through hardship as someone who can truly serve others and help them in their time of need.

Find your voice and use it toward your life’s passions, purpose, posture, and position to leave a legacy of leadership. Find your voice and your gifts, and use them!! Help others find their voice and their gifts, so they too may leave a lasting legacy of leadership and a heritage of love. You will begin to live a life of meaning and significance and you will leave an awesome legacy!

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Scott Hammond is a Parenting Expert and as a father of 9 children offers a unique point of view on fathering and intentional living. Scott is an Award Winning professional speaker and has been recognized as a business consultant/coach with 30 years of marketing experience. Scott is the author or “Every Day Dad-the Guide to Becoming a Better Father” available on Amazon.com. Reach out to Scott Hammond today at sjhammond@suddenlink.net.

 

5 Tools of Successful Families: #1 Listening

Improving family communication…

Communication has two parts…

• listening and
• expressing yourself

Both must occur for communication to be successful..

Listening…

When you listen well to family members, you encourage them to talk about what’s most important to them. It’s easy to get careless about really listening.

Listening is at least as important as talking. Everyone needs someone to listen to them-someone who supports them and allows them to openly express feelings. Sometimes a person can find a solution or discover the sources of stress just by talking. Some of us process our feelings or find ways to clarify and express our thoughts by simply talking to others. Find out which of your kids process in this way and you will have a key to unlocking their “code”.

Dad’s sometimes fill obligated to lecture, presents solutions, and give an analysis when listening. This is not good listening. A good listener should not feel obligated to advise, analyze, or have all the answers. Listening and responding with concern and understanding may be all the help needed.

Listening is difficult when strong emotions are present …

1. attentiveness…paying attention and putting aside what you are doing shows the speaker that you intend to listen. The harder part of attentiveness is putting aside your opinions and thoughts and conclusions until you’ve really heard what the speaker is trying to say.
2. an attitude of openness and respect… you may not agree with what your family members saying, but being willing to hear and listen indicates respect and honor.
3. clarifying meaning… check out the interpretation of the message you are getting. Feedback helps to know whether you’ve understood what your family member means. Give feedback or check your interpretation of what is being said…
4. a validating response… this lets the other person know you are ready for more listening. This involves body language, posture, facial expressions, and genuinely showing readiness for more communication

Dads tend to be natural lecturers… all of us need to work to be more intentional listeners. I’ve found many times that listening sets the stage for solving problems, great relationships, and genuine peace in our family. Practice just sitting and focusing on your child without any distractions, and it will transform your life, their life and your relationship together.