Heartitude Hero Series
Warren Buffet – A Legacy of Leading with Heart
With Thanksgiving and the gathering of generations of family, I’ve been thinking a bit about legacy. What does it mean to leave a legacy of Heartitude? An imprint, something that lasts beyond ourselves? What if your legacy is revealed in the moments that test your heart, not your title?
Maybe we don’t Leave a legacy. Maybe legacy is built with who you ARE, every moment of every day. In the little and big moments, in the silence of no one watching. hmm…
Few leaders embody the idea of building a legacy better than Heartitude Hero Warren Buffett.
What makes Buffett a HeartitudeWorks Hero is the way he leads; choosing long-term value over short-term wins, choosing fairness and integrity. and delivering on his promise to leave the world a better place.
Buffet invests in people the same way he invests in companies: trust first, autonomy second, accountability always. He hires outstanding managers, sets clear expectations, and then gets out of their way. His legacy is at the core of HeartitudeWorks – blending Heart and Mind to build systems that outlast you.
By pledging to give away most of his wealth, Buffett shows that leadership isn’t about accumulation—it’s about contribution. His legacy is an investment in a future he cannot be part of.
Leave people better than you found them. Measure success by what continues after you’re gone.
The next generation of leaders taking the reins of our organizations and our world want more than just a living. They want to make a life. They want leaders who see them, care about the world, and give them space to grow.
Contrary to the complaints of many of us who “worked our way up – the hard way,” young workers aren’t lazy and entitled. They’re simply demanding what many of us have quietly longed for throughout our own careers: meaning, connection, and the chance to contribute to something that matters.
And YES, these future leaders DO need our help.
They live in a world where boundaries between work and personal life blur at the speed of a thumb swipe. With every success and misstep instantly captured, commented on, and archived, they need guidance:
• how to communicate professionally
• how to rebound from criticism
• how to navigate conflict
• how to build resilience
• how to influence thoughtfully and ethically
Leaders don’t “leave” a legacy. They model it. What are we planting? How do we lead and guide others in a way worth following?
PRACTICE (Tool #20 – The Next Generation)
Have a conversation with a young leader in your team or family. Be curious. What are their hopes and dreams? What can you learn from their perspective?
Offer a “user’s guide to you.” Most young workers want to prove themselves AND may be less aware of different management styles. Help them with clear expectations, pet peeves and what “good looks like” to you as their leader.