Leadership Is Influence — But What Kind of Influence Are You Creating?
This past weekend, a message on leadership as influence sparked a powerful reflection.
Years ago, I completed a simple yet confronting exercise:
I imagined what my wife, children, family, friends, and colleagues would say about the kind of influence I had on their lives — and compared it to what I wanted them to say.
The gap between those two perspectives was eye-opening.
It forced me to confront a hard truth:
👉 Leadership isn’t defined by intention — it’s defined by impact.
Since then, I’ve guided hundreds of leaders through this same exercise. And almost every time, the same tension emerges:
What would people say about your leadership today?
What do you want them to say?
That gap is where real leadership work begins.
The Hidden Gap: Résumé Virtues vs. Eulogy Virtues
There’s a powerful distinction that reshapes how we think about leadership:
Résumé virtues are what get you hired and promoted.
They include:
Skills
Achievements
Titles
Performance metrics
They look impressive on paper.
But they don’t define your legacy.
Eulogy virtues, on the other hand, are what people remember when you're not in the room — or no longer here.
They include:
Character
Integrity
Trust
Compassion
Courage
Service
These are the qualities that define your influence.
And here’s the problem:
👉 Most leaders spend their lives optimizing for résumé virtues — while neglecting the eulogy virtues that truly matter.
Ironically, many rise into leadership roles because of résumé virtues…
…but struggle to lead effectively because they never developed the human side of influence.
The Leadership Crisis We Can’t Ignore
The data tells a sobering story about the state of leadership today:
75% of employees say their boss is the most stressful part of their day
57% report experiencing toxic leadership
56% are burned out
76% are disengaged at work
Only 21% trust their leaders
This isn’t a small gap.
It’s a leadership crisis.
And the cost is massive:
Burnout
Disengagement
High turnover
Trillions lost globally
But beyond the numbers, there’s a deeper issue:
👉 Leadership influence is actively shaping people’s well-being — for better or worse.
What Happens When Leaders Align with Their True North
Now imagine a different kind of leadership.
One that is anchored in clarity, purpose, and character.
When leaders align with their True North, everything changes:
Trust becomes the foundation of culture
People feel seen, valued, and motivated
Creativity and collaboration increase
Resilience strengthens across teams
Leaders operate with clarity and consistency
And yes — the business impact follows:
2.5× more innovation
27% higher profitability
400%+ ROI on leadership development
But more importantly:
👉 People thrive.
The Kind of Leadership That Leaves a Legacy
I experienced this kind of leadership firsthand through my grandfather.
He didn’t lead through titles or authority.
He led through presence.
Through how he made people feel:
Seen
Valued
Capable
His influence didn’t end with him.
It continues to ripple through the lives he touched.
That’s the power of eulogy-driven leadership.
That’s the kind of leadership that lasts.
A Question Every Leader Must Answer
Take a moment and ask yourself:
If people described your leadership today… would it match what you want to be remembered for?
If the answer is no — you’re not alone.
But you do have a choice.
You can:
Realign your leadership
Close the gap between intention and impact
Shift from résumé-driven success to legacy-driven influence
Because influence is inevitable.
👉 But legacy is a choice.
Ready to Lead with True North?
If you're ready to build a leadership style that:
Inspires trust
Strengthens culture
Drives performance
And creates lasting impact
Then it’s time to realign with your True North.
👉 Schedule a conversation: https://truenorthculture.org
Final Thought
The best leaders aren’t remembered for what they achieved.
They’re remembered for who they were — and how they made others feel.