Question

What is YOUR leadership legacy today? What do you want your leadership legacy to be 10 years – 20 years – 30 years from now? How can you orchestrate your leadership experiences to help you achieve your leadership legacy? As you ponder this question, consider developing your own A to Z chart.

Answer 1

I have contributed the maximum in the college to start a new cultural fest which celebrated every year.
I have also started a anti bullying and anti- harrasment committee in the my organisation
A leader's legacy is established by leaving something of enduring quality behind for the organization and its people. Effective leadership occurs when the leader strengthens others' capacity to learn, to reflect and to extract meaning from their learning.
Yet many things are to be done but a small legacy have been started.

I want to start my own business and lead a revolution in green energy.

To establish my company and my own legacy I have identified A to Z chart for the leadership which I need to follow

My A to Z chart

Here are 26 Essential Qualities of Effective Leadership:

A for Authentic: If leadership is not authentic, then what is it? Authenticity acts as a catalyst that earns the respect of followers. Authenticity is critical when directing others since it builds trust, and followers love leaders they can trust. The more your team trust you, the easier they will follow your lead. In order to be an effective and influential leader today, one must begin by making an honest and authentic assessment of oneself (Kruse, 2013).

B for Brave: A leader must be courageous and decisive. This will manifest itself by confronting challenges head-on, seeking feedback, saying what needs to be said, and holding others and oneself accountable for results (Tardanico, 2013).

C for Communication skills: Seventy percent of an individual's time is spent communicating. Typically, forty five percent of this time is spent listening and thirty percent speaking (Adler, Rosenfeld, Proctor, 2001). Great leaders understand the art of communication to effectively get their message across. They are good listeners. "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea” ~Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

D for Determination: To drive change requires determination. Leaders believe in their cause and are determined to make it happen. It requires enduring the journey in the face of enormous setbacks and obstacles. It takes commitment, patience, persistence to achieve goals. Abraham Lincoln who is widely regarded as the greatest president in American history was a pillar of determination. In spite of the enormous obstacles and setbacks faced he kept focused on his goals. "With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable," wrote Thomas Foxwell Buxton.

E for Emotional Intelligence: Leadership is about influencing human interactions (Ignaitus, 2013) which requires understanding and controlling of your emotions as well of those of others. Decades of research now point to emotional intelligence as the crucial factor that sets great leaders apart from the rest of the pack. It is a key component of effective leadership. It is learning to express yourself in a way that encourages good relationships through empathy and understanding.

F for Flexibility. Flexibility promotes creativity and brings improvement. These leaders emphasize people above procedures. They are constantly surveying the environment, thus recognizing the internal and external trends and adopting the necessary changes to remain current and effective while upholding their values. Organizations go through different cycles and leaders that embrace flexibility are better able to transition their team through changes.

G for Gratitude: Leading with an attitude of Gratitude allows one to appreciate the little contributions. Such leaders openly praise their team and publicly acknowledge their contributions. Recognition and reward is important for building commitment and strengthening relationships,. "People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards." ~Dale Carnegie. Leaders must form relationships based on genuine respect, a sincere interest in seeing others succeed, and an appreciation for a variety of contributions to a goal (Axner, 1993).

H for Humility. Humility is a foundational leadership strength. True leaders always aim to serve rather than be served. Humble leaders use their power to empower others. They are able to genuinely relate to and empathize with their followers. They draw people by humility and honour, not by position and power. According to a study from the University of Washington Foster School of Business, "humble people tend to make the most effective leaders.”

I for Inspiration: Inspirational Leadership is about energizing and creating a sense of direction and purpose for followers and excitement and momentum to achieve goals. Inspirational leaders are capable of taking an organization and people to new heights. How you are able to inspire your team, through your own actions and examples, is an important component to achieve leadership success. "A leader is a dealer in hope." ~ Napoleon Bonaparte

J for Jovial: A good attitude draws people to you. Having a great sense of humour is often an overlooked quality in leadership success. However, humour is a great way to win over and influence a team. It minimizes status distinctions between leaders and followers and encourages interaction. Leaders who use humour allow people to feel comfortable around them. This acts as a catalyst to influence and inspire others.

K for Knowledgeable: Leaders are relied upon for their intelligence and skills which determines the quality of the performance of the organization. They must show competence. To perform effectively leaders need to be knowledgeable about their fields in this regard to keep abreast of the ever changing environment and to be able to make better informed decisions. Continuous learning is the most effective way for leaders to survive competition and manage change. When one stops learning, it is a sure sign of decline in one’s leadership status.

L for Love: They have Love for their fellowmen. Mother Teresa said it quite succinctly, “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.” However in today’s self-seeking culture love seems a taboo word in leadership. For a leader to maximize situations, this requires going beyond spreadsheets and routines. It’s about taking a genuine interest in the team which will include a common respect and appreciation for every individual. "No one who is a lover of money, a lover of pleasure, or a lover of glory is a lover of man," wrote the Greek philosopher Epictetus.

M for Management by Objectives: Setting strategic organizational objectives is the starting point. The great need for inspiration is a must, but equally systems must be monitored and controlled to ensure tasks and road maps are created to operationalize the vision, which is normally achieved through the management function. Without efficient management skills the direction set by a leader risks being unsustainable. Leadership is about achieving outcomes. If goals aren’t attained your leadership presence may be curtailed.

N for Noble: The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity.” Dwight D. Eisenhower. Great leaders are known for the ethical principles they stand on and their actions promote these values. They are fair and promote justice. Leadership is not a right but a privilege bestowed upon the leader by followers. To whom much is given, much is required. Accountability is important for effective leadership. Leaders must make a conscious effort to take responsibility for their thoughts and actions. For them, having a high internal locus of control is superior to a high external locus of control (Nguyen, 2013).

O for Opportunity seeking: Their focus is on opportunities, not on problems. They don’t sit and wait passively for something to happen or someone to act. They are proactive rather than reactive. They take action while others are waiting for a safer situation or assured results. Ordinary individuals see the glass as half empty while leaders view it as half full. They prepare and plan carefully. They believe once there is a will there is a way and they are determined to fashion it into being.

P for Personal Development: Leaders that embrace a growth mind-set know that leadership development is an ongoing process so they are constantly looking for ways to improve themselves. Self-awareness is the platform for achieving higher levels of performance. You must be able to identify both your strengths and weaknesses. "There is only one corner of the universe where you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self," ~Aldous Huxley

Q for Quality: As Vince Lombardi stated “The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavour.” Leaders focus on creating excellence. Once the leader sets the example everyone in the team will follow as well. 'Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

R for Risk: Leadership is synonymous with change. Risk brings change and opportunity. Risk-taking is an indispensable part of leadership. When we look at leaders who are making a difference we see that they have the courage to chart new paths. They take the necessary risks because they know that is the only way forward. Creativity and Innovation are the lifeblood of any organization.

S for Social responsibility: Great leaders not only focus on the organization and their employees but also the society as a whole. They look at the overall big picture. Leadership is about making a meaningful contribution. They are concerned about the future and how their decisions will impact it. Leaders are responsible for fulfilling their civic duty; the actions of an individual must benefit the whole of society.

T for Teach: Training and coaching―Great Leaders teach. They help to develop and grow their team. As leaders, one of our primary roles is to help our people to realize their full potential. It's about understanding each of your team motivations and priorities and enabling them to flourish and achieve their goals. Their focus is on producing more leaders and not just more followers. They embrace succession planning.

U for Unite: Great leaders build great teams. They are able to rally people and gain support for their goals. They work by uniting and not by dividing. Building bridges is their primary objective. They bring people together for the common good. They make an effort to understand others, their drivers, motivators and value set in order to truly give and get the best from them.

V for Visionary: The best visionary leaders paint a clear compelling picture of what is possible. They see into the future and strive to take others there. Martin Luther King Jr. encapsulates this in his legendary speech "I Have a Dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

W for Wisdom: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" ~Proverbs 4:7. Wisdom is fundamental to leadership existence. Wisdom is the effective application of knowledge. Knowledge will only get you so far. It’s wisdom that will give you the edge. “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” ~Nelson Mandela

X for X-Factor: Leadership requires being present in the right place and the right time. You may be a leader but what also matters is whether you are in a position within which your talents can shine forth. If Mahatma Ghandi had been born in a different era or country would his skills be effectively utilized?

Y for Youthful―Balance and Well Being: Ultimately your well-being is very important to your overall success as a leader. Unless you are healthy you cannot lead your team with vitality and vigour. It’s important to take care of your health. Only when you take care of yourself you can enjoy the fruits of your leadership.

Z for Zealous: "As Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. …Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” It is enthusiasm that will energize you and propel your cause forward. The spirit of enthusiasm will lift you and those around you when the odds are stacked against you. Passion is indeed oxygen of the soul.