How Will You Measure Your Life?
Recently, I received a book in the mail. Or what I thought was going to be a book. Instead, it was a tiny, pamphlet-sized copy of an article called How Will You Measure Your Life? The key and final message in it resonated with me, and I wanted to share it here.
At the end of the article, the author, Clayton Christensen, emphasizes that the individual people whose lives he has touched will be a measure of his success. He concludes by saying:
“Don’t worry about the level of individual prominence you have achieved; worry about the individuals you have helped become better people.”
When you consider this in the context of your own life and work, there are so many ways you can do that.
It might be supporting a local entrepreneur, student, friend, or family member to achieve their goals, to grow and learn, or to build a family, a home, or a community. It might be supporting a staff member, colleague, intern, or volunteer at your organization.
When I read that quote, it brought to mind the value of helping people become better leaders through the Leading People Program™.
I know from firsthand experience how much improving leadership skills can touch the lives of the people around us. When someone becomes more self-aware, learns how to have a difficult conversation, gets better at giving feedback, understands how to hold people accountable, or simply becomes more confident in their ability to lead, the impact doesn't stop with that person.
It extends to the people they lead. And then to the people those people interact with. Developing people truly creates a ripple effect.
This is one of the reasons I am so passionate about the Leading People Program (LPP). I believe that helping people become better leaders is meaningful work, not just because it helps organizations, but because of the potential impact those leaders can have on the people around them.
And that brings me back to purpose.
When I work with clients privately, we talk about purpose and values. They are central to how we show up in our lives every day and how we make important decisions.
It matters. It matters a lot.
It can take time to see the results of staying true to your purpose, but as a guiding compass, it can help you make decisions about where to put your time, energy, and attention.
For me, helping people learn and grow has become an important part of my own purpose. The Leading People Program™ is one way I get to live that out.
Who is the Leading People Program for?
There are lots of different ways businesses and individuals participate in the program.
Some businesses send a couple of key leaders initially and then send a new leader to each open cohort. Others may send one leader to an open cohort and then arrange a private program for six or more team members. Others send one leader at a time.
Or, if you are a solo entrepreneur or micro-business owner, you may simply send yourself because you need those people-leadership skills to work with contractors and part-time staff, and to understand your own leadership strengths and blind spots.
Every one of these types of leaders has been part of the program over the years.
Leaders from all types of organizations and industries can benefit, too. I have a strong community in travel and outdoor experiences, so often leaders and emerging leaders in those industries attend my program. When we gather a cohort, we find that all leaders are navigating similar issues.
It is a beautiful blend to have people from travel, tourism, outdoor, and hospitality alongside those working in construction, engineering, health care, beauty, and nonprofit organizations (any industry is welcome).
People who have experienced the program have shared:
“Participating in the LPP training was deeply meaningful to me, both as a leader with more than 25 years of experience and as a new business owner beginning a different chapter of my own leadership journey. The experience reminded me that leadership is never something we simply master, it is an ongoing journey of learning, reflection, growth, and connection.”
“With the tools introduced in the LPP, I now have knowledge of how to address leadership with precision and skill and (re)gained the confidence to lead in many complex situations.”
“I feel like this program was an investment in myself and my business and I am now more organized, grounded, and confident as a leader and owner.”
I want to circle back to Christensen's question: How will you measure your life?
Maybe it isn't only about what you accomplish yourself. Maybe it is also about the people you help become stronger, more capable, more confident, and more fully themselves. Maybe it is about the people who are better because you took the time to invest in them.
Is part of your purpose helping people develop and grow?
Are you at a point in your business where you need to develop the leadership capabilities of the people around you so you can create more capacity for your own purpose and vision?
Or maybe you are simply ready to become a better leader yourself.
Whatever your reason, developing people-leadership capabilities can be one meaningful way to create a ripple that extends far beyond you.
And what a gift that is.
Contact me to talk about the Leading People Program™ and your options for yourself or your team.
Comments