Who is Jay Newman? And Why this Blog?

Jay Newman has more than 45 years of experience in education and business. He received BA in biology from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, his Masters from Northern Illinois University, and his Doctorate from Vanderbilt University in 1984 and has continued to study leadership every since. His insights into how any leader can be more effective are based on direct experience in his own leadership roles and through the dozens of professionals he has coached.

Becoming a leadership coach is easy. All you have to do is say you are a coach and, poof, you are. You can even become a certified coach, which takes a little more effort than simply saying you are a coach. But just like coaching basketball or debate, the proof is in the product. What happens to the people you coach? Do they succeed? Do they get better? Several years ago I was introduced to the concept of People Acumen. People Acumen is the ability to read people like a book and then use that knowledge and understanding to make more effective people decisions more quickly than ever before. In my experience People Acumen runs hand-in-hand with true leadership; what I refer to as Legacy Leadership.

Why is Legacy Leadership Important?

• Because it is independent of the personality of the leader. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you can lead people to a better outcome by being a Legacy Leader.
• Because it will help people in any organization gain a more grounded perspective on what that organization is doing and why it even exists.
• Because it will change the world as we know it from a world that is so focused on the collective “me” into a world that is focused on the collective “why!”

If this world is going to become a better place for all, it must be led to that better place by Legacy Leaders. It is the Legacy Leader that becomes selfless but directed. It is the Legacy Leader that focuses on Principles and Values over doctrine and tradition. It is not that doctrine and tradition are bad, it is simply that when doctrine and tradition are maintained when they violate the core values and principles, the act of maintaining and supporting those doctrines and traditions becomes a new definition of evil.

If you want get started on a journey towards becoming a Legacy Leader, here are a few questions:

• Why do you want to become a Legacy Leader?
• What about the leadership act has helped you conclude that you need to become a Legacy Leader?
• Who are the people that you believe would benefit from you becoming a Legacy Leader?
• If you are successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You are not required to do this. You do not have to change. Taking a different approach to leadership is hard. The world rewards those who are hard nosed, tough minded, and blast through the rock to find the physical gold and diamonds. It rarely rewards those who think of others first. Those leaders who dig through muck to retrieve the true gold and diamonds, people who actually make the world work. The world rarely rewards these leaders financially or with positions of power and authority. But think of some of the most amazing people who have ever lived. Think of the legacy they have left. Think of Mother Theresa and Gandhi.

This Blog will focus on how anyone can become a Legacy Leader. It will talk about building Legacy Cultures. It will try to be uplifting and positive. Heaven knows we have enough around us to bring us down.