One day you won’t be here. Your chair will be empty.
True legacy doesn’t begin with ambition—it begins with a question. And it’s an uncomfortable one: What will you be remembered for?
A few years ago, a horrible health hiccup forced me to consider my own mortality. In that moment, I gained incredible clarity about the impact I wanted to leave behind—without even trying. It wasn’t about titles, accolades, or achievements. It was about what really matters: helping others and creating meaningful change.
You don’t have to face a life-altering event to benefit from this perspective (and I’m glad). Thinking about your legacy isn’t just a philosophical exercise—it’s a powerful career redesign tool and a cornerstone of effective leadership coaching. When we realign our work with the lasting difference we want to make, everything changes.
What Data Tells Us About Purposeful Leadership
Purposeful leadership is less about leaving your name in lights and more about creating value for others. The numbers back this up:
➜ 83% of transformational leaders focus on creating systemic change, prioritising purposeful improvement over personal recognition.
➜ Teams led by purpose-driven leaders achieve 2.3x higher innovation rates and greater creativity, engagement, and growth.
The paradox? Leaders who prioritise meaningful impact over “legacy-building” often leave the most enduring influence.
The 3-Step Impact Amplification Framework
Here’s how you can start thinking about your leadership legacy in a way that creates lasting value:
- Systemic Vision
Focus on creating sustainable change for a cause you truly care about. It’s not just about organisational growth—it’s about contributing to something meaningful to you and others. Ask yourself: What problems do I want to solve? What kind of change can I champion? - Empowering Development
Support your team’s growth beyond their current role with you. Invest in their career design and future potential, a practice central to leadership coaching. When you prioritise empowerment, you leave a legacy of growth and possibility that extends long after you’re gone. Consider: How am I helping others grow? What skills or opportunities am I creating for them? - Collective Value Creation
Shift the focus from personal achievement to shared insights. Embed practices that nurture innovation and foster a culture of purpose. By transforming individual success into collective wisdom, you ensure your impact continues in your absence. Reflect on: What systems or practices am I leaving behind that will drive success?
The Psychology of Legacy
Why do we avoid thinking about legacy? For many, it feels abstract, even intimidating. But shifting the focus from self to others makes it actionable. Research shows that helping others activates intrinsic motivation and deepens our own sense of fulfillment. When we link our purpose to the lives of others and prioritise collective impact, we usually find more clarity and purpose in our own work.
A Question to Reflect On
True legacy goals won’t often have you at their centre. They’re not even about what you’ll be remembered for really—it’s about the difference you make today.
So the real question is’nt:
➜ What legacy do I want to leave?
It’s:
➜ How can I make a lasting difference to those around me”?
➜ What capabilities can I cultivate in others today that will endure tomorrow?”
If you’re ready to explore these ideas further, check out Unstuck: A Smart Guide to Purposeful Career Redesign. It is packed with insights on realigning your career with purpose.
