Garwood Presbyterian Church

Leaving a Legacy

Exodus 24:12-13, Mark 3:13-15, Colossians 3:21, I Thessalonians 5:11

Introduction How would you define a successful leader? A leader is a success not only by how well their organization does while they are there, but by how well their organization does after they are gone. This is because an important part of being a successful leader is the preparation of other leaders to take your place after you are gone. The leaders you prepare to take over for you while you are still leading are your legacy.

1. Leaving a Legacy of Leadership at Your Job
   1. To leave a legacy of leadership at your job, you need to do three things: 1. Model your leader-ship. 2. Mentor leaders. 3. Train leaders.
   2. Henry Ford was a great industrialist, but a lousy leader. His industrial genius allowed the Ford Motor company to overcome all their rivals and to prosper initially. However, he and his grandson, Henry Ford II, who took over for him, both had one major leadership flaw that caused General Motors to overcome Ford and become the largest automaker in the world for a long period of time. Their flaw was that due to their insecurity, they would fire the very best Ford employees who would work their way up the ranks and into important positions with Ford. They saw them as threats who could take over their own positions. This weakened the Ford Motor company for the many years they were its top leaders.
   3. Coca-Cola was one of the best companies in the world because of their leader, Roberto Goizueta. Then he unexpectedly died. Instead of the company going into a tailspin, it continued to grow and prosper because he had spent years mentoring a replacement to take over for him.
   4. To leave a legacy of leadership at your job you need to mentor leaders.
      1. Moses mentored Joshua to take over for him, and Joshua became a very successful leader, Exodus 24:12-13.
      2. However, Joshua failed to do the same thing and mentor a replacement for himself.
   5. To leave a legacy at your job, you need to model leadership by what you do & how you do it.
      1. The best example and most successful modeling of all time was Jesus' modeling of His life to the twelve Apostles who would carry on for Him after His ascension to heaven, Mark 3:13-15. The Christian Church is the result of Jesus' successful modeling.
   6. To leave a legacy at your job, also have training for leadership regularly for your people.
2. Leaving a Legacy of Leadership with Your Family
   1. More important than leaving a legacy at your job is to leave a legacy with your family.
      1. However, it is more difficult because of your family members' free will and the choices they can make.
         1. Aaron, the first High Priest, and the failure of two of his sons, Leviticus 10:1-3.
         2. Eli, a High Priest during Samuel's time, & his two wicked sons, I Samuel 2:12-17, 3:11-14.
         3. Samuel's two ungodly sons, I Samuel 8:1-5.
      2. However, the time and effort you spend on this is worth it because your children and grandchildren are your main legacy.
   2. To leave a legacy of leadership with your family:
      1. Encourage them. What you encourage, they will do. See I Thessalonians 5:11.
         1. On the other hand, criticism conditions them to be a failure instead of a leader, Col. 3:21.
      2. Share your power with them. If you try to retain all the power and control them, you will raise either a wimp or a rebel. You are conditioning them to be a follower instead of a leader.
      3. Give them some power by: a. Trusting them. b. Giving them responsibility. c. Enabling them to win and be successful.

Conclusion: The greatest leaders do not produce followers, but more leaders. The leaders you produce are the true measure of your leadership ability and your leadership legacy.