Legacy of Leadership

Originally published July 2012
Sweeping, The Journey of Chimney and Venting Technology

"Strive for Perfection...Settle for Excellence."

-The Disney Institute

Many of you have heard me talk about or seen me write about the influence of Walt Disney over the years. You can imagine what a thrill it was for me to be a part of the Guild's experience of finally bringing our annual convention to Orlando this past February. I'm an admitted geek when it comes to to the Mouse and all that he and his creator's legacy represent, from the thrill and wonder they instill in children to the dreams and passion they inspire in adults and business people.

Last month I had a rare opportunity to participate in a Disney Institute program hosted here in Indiana called Disney's Approach to Leadership Excellence. At the onset of the program, one of the facilitators, a twenty year veteran of the company remarked:

"It's not magic that makes Disney work, it's the hard work of the cast and leadership that makes Disney magic."

That got me thinking. I've always been a sucker for the "magic of Disney," and while I've studied plenty about what's behind the magic, I don't know that I truly contemplated what really continues to deliver the magic 46 years after Walt's death, 57 years after he opened his first park, and 84 years after he created Mickey Mouse. It's the legacy of leadership that he created and encouraged in everyone around him and has been passed down for literally generations since.

Granted, we may not all be a Walt Disney, but the real legacy he left is the realization that we all can be leaders. After all, a leader is anyone who is an influencer of change. Consider the janitor who picks up trash off the bathroom floor in a away that suggests he's not just doing so because it's his job, rather he's doing so because he knows it's the right thing to do and he takes legitimate pride in making things look better. Now consider the person that just witnessed that janitor pick up the trash, walks out the door and see a piece of trash in the hallway or on the sidewalk, and throws the trash away subconsciously following the janitor's lead. Doesn't that make the janitor a leader?

Emphasizing the impact one average person can have on a leadership movement, there's a great short video on You Tube called "The First Follower." The video and the dialogue behind it were featured as a Ted Conference talk in 2010, but the key to the story wasn't as much about the average guy who had the guts to stand alone and start the "movement" as it is about the first guys to join him and dare to follow; the influence the first follower had on what would become a large movement. That first follower was, in fact, a leader himself who influenced change in the others around him. I won't tell you any more about it, as it's worth the three minute investment of your time to check it out for yourself.

So it's all about influencing change. It's surely no surprise to anyone reading this article that in today's business climate, change is guaranteed and constant. To truly success and thrive, we can't simply react to change; we have to anticipate change and be proactive. Reflecting back on what has become know in Disney history as "The Transition Years" following the deaths of Walk and, five years later, Roy Disney, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner said this about change:

"It may seem easier for our life to remain constant. However, change, really, is the only constant. We cannot stop it and we cannot escape it. We can let it destroy us or we can embrace it. We must embrace it."

In the program I attended, the Institute suggests there are four key functions that any leader must perform. And keep in mind, leadership is not automatically instilled by one's title. Leadership is instilled by one's actions; so anyone has the capacity to be a leader. 

First, a leader has a vision for the future. It may be grand or it may be relatively small, but it's a vision none-the-less. He or she knows the change that needs to occur and communicates that vision with passion. Think of a change needed in your own business. Are you able to effectively communicate your vision to everyone who needs to know it?

Second, a leaders can identify and articulate what needs to get done to bring about the change that is sought, and is able to mold their operations accordingly and identify the right people to carry it out. Great leaders organize their operations so that information is effectively shared, allowing for good decisions to be made, and quality results to be produced. Who do you need around you to help make your vision a reality?

Third, a leader is able to engage those around them, actively involving their team in the work and letting them take ownership of their contributions to the change. If you have employees, this is when they are given and accept responsibility for the performance of your business. When decision-making power goes to the team, they have a greater sense of ownership, show initiative in their work, and take pride in the products and services they produce. Are you encouraging autonomy and ownership in those around you?

Fourth, a leader has a commitment to results. Change doesn't happen overnight. Patience is a necessity, but along the way great leaders stay focused on the goal, encouraging check points along the way to maintain everyone's motivation and to actively support progress toward the goal.

And ultimately, the cumulative effect of a leader's day-to-day behaviors add up to leave a legacy for their organization and everyone they touch. True leaders recognize that the values and behaviors they demonstrate each and every day will be remembered longer than their accomplishments. They create the positive and respectful example for others to follow. They create meaningful and effective relationships for life. They ignite excitement and enthusiasm in those around them. They remain true to their values through consistent behavior. Are you merely building a business, or are you creating a legacy?

I was once told that we judge our own integrity based on our intentions...when asked, most of us would say that we have integrity. However, others judge our integrity based on our observable behaviors and actions. How would others judge you?

I hope you are each finding the magic in your own business. More importantly, I hope you are discovering how your business can continue to deliver the magic for years to come.

Until next time, I continue to wish you every success!

Mark