Creating a Legacy of Humble Leadership

In wrapping up our look at fostering a mentorship culture, I shared how simple I believe creating a leadership legacy can truly be; it’s not at all out of reach when we focus on the impact we can have on those around us rather than how we may be remembered because of it. That’s where humility comes into play. I’ll emphasize it once more just to make sure we’re still on the same page: Humility isn’t thinking less of ourselves; it’s thinking of ourselves less. 

I’ve studied John Maxwell for more than twenty-five years and Mark Cole for over a decade. In that time, I’ve been in arenas where John spoke to over fifteen thousand people and I’ve been in small groups where he’s talked with just a few hundred. I’m not sure how many books he’s written in that time, at least a few dozen, but he’s sold close to 50 million copies. While Mark worked to avoid much of the spotlight through the first fifteen years as John’s CEO, aside from agreeing to write the foreword to my first book and serve as the closing keynote speaker for a few of our events locally, his work has still touched hundreds of thousands of people around the world through how he’s supported John. They’ve each done this with a constant spirit of humility. As much as I’ve heard John share the powerful quotes he’s known for, like “Everything rises and falls on leadership” and “Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less,” I’ve heard him tell his audiences, “My name is John and I’m your friend.” While I haven’t had the proximity with John to build a close friendship, I can say that I feel his sincerity each time I hear him say it. I have, however, interacted with Mark closely enough in the time I’ve known him to share that he lives by that same statement.

Whether it’s with the now more than fifty thousand people around the globe who have completed some level of certification through Maxwell Leadership, their direct employees in that organization, those of us who have opportunities to interact with either of them directly, or to organizations and countries they serve worldwide, they provide an example of humble leadership that can and will have a lasting legacy. Clearly, everyone they interact with won’t replicate that same humility. The ones who do, though, will make a positive impact on everyone following them.

One of the best compliments Cindy and I get today is when someone we’ve just gotten to know, be that through a large group we’ve spoken for or a smaller group we’ve done training with, tells us that they appreciate us being regular people, people they relate to and feel a connection with. That always warms my heart because that’s exactly what we’ve felt from John and Mark, and that’s what I experienced from each of the men I’ve referenced so often leading up to now who have mentored me over the years. When we think more about the impact we can have through the service we provide those we’re privileged enough to lead than we do about how any of that reflects on us as individuals, we have a real shot at creating a legacy of humble leadership. Before we start a deep dive into how much more we can accomplish by choosing influence over authority, I’ll challenge you to identify one thing you can do daily to model humility.