A Leaders Legacy Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner

In A Leaders Legacy, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, best-selling authors of The Leadership Challenge, explore the topics of leadership and legacy and the questions that leaders must ask themselves when striving to make a difference. Legacy thinking requires leaders to take a step back and consider what type of legacy they are leaving behind. Important questions for leaders to ask themselves are, What kind of difference do I want to make? and How do I want to be remembered?. These questions are not to be asked for self-serving purposes, but rather, with the realization and appreciation that others will inherit what is left behind. Exceptional leaders consider where weve been, where we are today, and where we are going. They realize that leading is about what others gain from them, not what they gain for themselves. When striving to leave a lasting legacy, it is with the desire to leave, knowing that theyve left things in better shape than when upon arrival. This could be in reference to a team, workplace, committee, community, even our world. It is important to know that we can all make a difference, regardless of our title, position or place in an organization or the world. The book, A Leaders Legacy, is made up of 22 chapters, grouped into the following four categories: Significance, Relationships, Aspirations and Courage. Part 1 Significance Exemplary leaders are interested more in others success than in their own. Their greatest achievements are the triumphs of those they serve. Knowing they have made a difference in others lives is what motivates their own, giving leaders the strength to endure hardships, struggles, and inevitable sacrifices required to achieve great things. Leaders who see their role as serving others leave the most lasting legacies. Chapters included under this category are: 1 2 3 4 5 Leaders Serve and Sacrifice The Best Leaders are Teachers We All Need Loving Critics You Are the Most Important Leader in your Organization No One Likes to Be an Assumption

Part 2 Relationships Leadership is a relationship. Its a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow. Whether the relationship is with one or many, leadership requires engaging others. No matter how much formal power and authority our positions give us, well only leave a lasting legacy if others want to be in that relationship with us.

Chapters included under this category are: 6 7 8 9 10 Leadership is Personal Leaders Should Want to Be Liked When You Dont See Eye to Eye, Seek to Understand You Cant Take Trust for Granted Let Your People Go

Part 3 Aspirations A lasting legacy is built on a firm foundation of principles and purpose. That means that leadership development is first and foremost self-development. At the same time, if we are going to leave a legacy that means something to others, you have to think about what they want and what they aspire to achieve. Leadership isnt about selling your vision; its about articulating the peoples vision. Chapters included under this category are: 11 12 13 14 15 Lead from the Inside Out Forward-Looking is a Leadership Prerequisite Its Not Just the Leaders Vision Liberate the Leader in Everyone Leaders are Followers, Too!

Part 4 Courage Leaving a legacy is about making a difference. Leaders need to have the courage to take a stand on things that matter. Chapters included under this category are: 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
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Theres Courage in All of Us You Cant Plan to Be Courageous, But You Can Choose It It Takes Courage to Make a Life The Courage to Be Human Failure is Always an Option No Money-Back Guarantee Afterword: The Legacy You Leave Is the Life you Lead

Kouzes, J., & Posner, B. (2006). A Leaders Legacy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.