When thinking about an organization, the term ‘legacy’ often conjures up images of dedicated silver-haired leaders at the tail-end of their careers. However, a legacy is something that leaders and employees (no matter their age) can achieve through everyday patterns throughout their careers. In fact, your employees can start to form their own legacies from their very first day on the job.
On top of individual legacies within your organization, have you ever considered how these can impact your company’s legacy as a whole? Of course, each individual’s legacy will be influenced by their personality and how they do things, but how does an organization make sure their leaders and employees reflect and affirm your company’s legacy?
Below, we take a look at a few ways in which you can encourage your team to start shaping their own legacy, and in turn, shape your company’s unique legacy.
Sure, you have a list of core values on posters above the coffee machine and printing station. But are you doing everything possible to instill these values and define what it really means to be each of those things as an individual and as an organization? Engage and involve your team to identify what it looks like when you live these values as individuals, leaders, teams and the organization as a whole. As soon as you hone in and highlight what each of your core values represents, the easier it will be for your employees to emulate these values in their behavior and work ethic. Employees will begin to ask themselves, how do I reinforce or resist these values in my day-to-day activities?
As the adage goes, we can speak of these values, but it’s imperative to reflect them in their everyday actions. Perhaps your company’s core values are ‘integrity, honesty, and fairness, for example.’ If an employee is living and breathing these three values, it’s essential to recognize this reflection of your company’s core values. Modeling and continuous recognition and appreciation will encourage your team to keep these core values close to their heart as they move forward in their careers.
Not only do you want your employees to understand your organization’s core values and reinforce these values through their actions, it’s your role as a leader to motivate and inspire them to do so. We all want our teams to have a sense of pride in what they do and how they contribute. Involve and encourage your entire team to work towards this common goal of shaping your company’s legacy. Reinforcing what really matters to your company can be a strong motivator to encourage employees to practice what you preach and focus on long-term rewards. As a leader, it’s essential to recognize what’s in it for your employees, and not only on what needs to be done.
Do you need help to encourage your leaders to form their legacy while helping to shape your company’s legacy simultaneously? At HPWP, we offer leadership coaching at all levels to achieve the results that matter most to you.
Our clients partner with us to accelerate organizational change and results without the burden of hiring full-time professionals. To motivate your team, start your Leadership Coaching and Development today.
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