As leaders, many of us have power. Power to make decisions, power to make things happen, power to give people feedback. In most cases, having power is not a bad thing, as long as we use it for good and not evil.
With power comes responsibility. An important consideration when using power is thinking about how we make people feel. The Maya Angelou quote reminds us that long after people’s memories of what we said and what we did fade, they will still remember how we made them feel.
I was thinking of an old boss recently and I couldn’t put my finger on any specific instance or interaction, but I have a clear recollection of how they made me feel then, and how I still feel about them now. Powerful stuff.
So, when using your power (for good, not evil), to get things done etc, take a moment to consider not only what you say, but how you say it. Think about your leadership legacy – just a little consideration may mean a big difference, now and in the future.
