Fly on the Wall: A Peek into Your Leadership Legacy

Ever thought about what your employees say about you when they get home? If you were a fly on the wall, would you be sitting smugly on the light fixture or nervously buzzing toward the nearest escape route?

Let’s imagine two scenarios:

Scenario One:

Spouse: How was your day, love?

Employee: It was good overall. Busy, but good.

Scenario Two:

Spouse: How was your day, love?

Employee: I don’t know how much longer I can take it. My boss? Sure, he says he appreciates us, but we all know it’s just empty words. He is always telling us how his past team did it better. It happened again today, and I just never know where I stand.

Yikes. If Scenario Two sounds uncomfortably familiar, it might be time to reevaluate your leadership style.

A family sitting at the table eating food and startled by a fly

The Dinner Table Effect

Here’s the deal: Your leadership doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m. It goes home with your employees and joins them at the dinner table. It doesn’t just affect their day—it impacts their evening, their family, and maybe even their Netflix queue (because let’s be honest, who can enjoy a good binge session when work stress is looming?).

Leadership has a ripple effect that extends far beyond the office. A good leader can make their employees feel valued and motivated, while a poor leader… well, they end up as the star of some less-than-flattering dinner conversations.

Beyond Rainbows: The Realities of Leadership

Now, let’s be real: Leadership isn’t all about handing out compliments and high-fives like you’re a motivational speaker on a sugar rush. There will be tough days, difficult conversations, and decisions that don’t make everyone happy. But here’s the kicker: It’s not only what you do—it’s how you do it.

Great leaders communicate with empathy, respect, and authenticity. They don’t just manage tasks; they build trust. That’s what sets them apart from someone who’s merely punching the “manager” clock.

The Leadership Eulogy

Think about this: Leadership is like writing your own eulogy, except instead of reflecting on your life, it’s about how you’ll be remembered as a leader. What will your employees say about you when they reminisce years down the road?

Will they remember you as the boss who inspired them, supported them, and made them feel appreciated? Or will they remember you as the boss who made their lives harder, left them stressed, and gave them plenty to vent about over family dinner?

Your Leadership Legacy

Every day, you’re writing your leadership legacy. The question is, what kind of story are you creating? Are your actions fostering a positive, lasting impact on your employees and their families? Or are they causing undue stress and frustration that extends beyond the office walls?

Here’s a thought: The next time you interact with your team, imagine them recounting the conversation to their spouse or kids. Would it make you proud? If not, it might be time to adjust your approach.

Your leadership style has the power to change not just workdays, but lives. Choose to be the leader who empowers, not the one whose name gets a collective groan at dinner.