What legends do you embrace?

Intentional leaders embrace the legends that come before them — and work to shape their own.

THINK ON IT: What legends do you embrace?

What are the legends in your company — the stories that get retold within your culture? They could be the story of the company founder, an employee, or even an admired outsider whose actions are noteworthy for some reason. The legends you embrace are the people who have an oversized impact on your company culture; the ones you talk about decades after they’ve left. 

Legendary stories abound in corporate culture. Consider Steve Jobs' "reality distortion field" which drove his team to impossible heights. Or supercomputer pioneer Seymour Cray who designed and built a sailboat every year, only to set it ablaze in the fall to demonstrate that you shouldn't rely on old designs for new ideas.

Legendary stories don't just emanate from legendary people. They are just as often told of someone's outstanding contribution, or conversely an embarrassing failure. The stories we tell and retell within our firm are themselves telling. The company culture is sustained through storytelling, and values are at the heart of them. Will we rise to the occasion like that legend, or will we make the same mistake like that one?

Want to know something about where your company is heading? What its true values might be?

Listen to the stories. If you don't like what you hear, it may be a good time to embrace some new legends.

“Things don’t have to change the world to be important." — Steve Jobs

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