Thursday, April 30, 2009

WHAT WILL THEY REMEMBER ABOUT YOU?

"When people talk about leadership, they often use the word passion.  And when we think about passion we tend to think of emotions like enthusiasm, zeal, energy, exuberance, and intensity.  Well, all these attributions might be true, but when you look up the word passion in any dictionary that includes origins you'll see that it comes from the Latin word for suffering.  Passion is suffering!  

A passionate person is someone who suffers and a compassionate person is someone who suffers with, and shares the suffering of, others -- and wants to take action to alleviate this condition.  Nearly every act of leadership requires suffering -- and often for the leader a choice between one's personal success and safety and the greater welfare of others.  We're asking you to understand that nothing great comes without costs.  Leadership is hard work.  It's not easy despite what we, or others, may write in our attempts to make leadership more accessible.  We will all be remembered for something.  The question is, for what?  What will others say about you when you're no longer around."

From "A Leader's Legacy"
By Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner

When you eventually leave Covenant, what will the younger girls remember about you?  Did you inspire them to be better through your leadership?  Did you show them what being a true team-player means?  Did you patiently work with them to help them become better?  

What will they remember about you?

4:13

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