5. What Kind of Leader Do You Want to Be?

REBECCA NEWTON

IT’S THE QUESTION missing from so much of leadership development: “What kind of leader do you want to be?” We facilitate and encourage self-awareness among up-and-coming leaders, get them to map their journeys so far, share knowledge and ideas, and help them acquire new skills and adopt new behaviors. But we don’t focus strongly enough on arguably the most central components to successful leadership: leadership intent (the kind of leader you want to be) and impact (the legacy you want to leave). I call these two components, combined, your “leadership footprint.” In my experience, many have thought about their leadership footprint at some point, but few have defined it clearly enough to guide their behavior and evaluate their “success.” Of those who have, fewer give it regular consideration—letting it guide…

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Harvard Business Review Special Issues (Digital) - 1 Issue, Spring 2025

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