As we celebrated Father’s Day this past weekend, I was thinking about my dad and how it has been 7 years since his passing.  For me he is never really gone, always in heart, but quietly in the background.  Which honestly, you could proclaim is the leadership style he lived.

We see and or read article after article, post upon post, about leadership.  What qualities make a good leader, an ineffective one, a memorable one.  If we are truthful, most of us in the role, desire to be the leader exemplifying all the definitions if not actually modeling the examples of writings.  I don’t know that my dad ever thought about this… maybe.  He lived at a time and was the type of person that did what he did, without overthinking it. For that, anyone that had the fortune to meet him, looked upon him as a distinguished leader.   

Honoring dad, I share a perspective of leading to add to all the others. Leadership contains humility, empathy and listening. A leader is confident, engaged, honest, dependable and committed.  You identify with being significant to them and there’s no questioning what they stand for.  Most of all, in their absence, you remember thoughtfully the words, phrases or stories they spoke.  You speak of them with admiration and appreciation of your experiences with them. You miss them but carry pieces of them forward in your life. 

In respect to my role model of leadership, I am questioning can it be as simple as striving to be the best and most authentic version of yourself? Living our story and values, every day with integrity? In trying so hard to define leadership perfectly and as if it is repeatable, are we complicating it? Do we forget leading requires a two-way, real relationship around forming a connection and showing respect?  Can leadership be summed up as how the impact of our contributions makes a meaningful difference?
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With this year’s celebration complete, if possible, reimagine the fatherhood influence in your life as a definition of leadership to inspire you.  Happy Father’s Day to all – my sons, my husband, my dad (watching over us) and every man that is touching our life momentously!

An overarching theme for me this past week was education and conversation around exits, succession and business transfer.  Beyond a bit of irony mom and I laughed about related to events in our own life. I welcome the experiences and growth opportunities for me to enhance my toolbox as invaluable going forward!

In a commitment by the Small Business Development Center to facilitate a knowledge exchange program for its Advisors, I took part in a 1 ½ day session that kicked off with a condensed version of the Certificate in Exit Planning Program.  Scott Snider, VP of the Exit Planning Institute, professionally and skillfully took us through it.  To quote him, “If you have one take away, make it, Exit Planning is Business Strategy”.  A comment worthy of paying it forward. 

You might envision that this statement is supported, by the ideas of best practices, be prepared and active communication.  Demonstrating the value around these ideas, we engaged in a group activity to determine the company appraisal of a real-life case study.  It was interesting how 9 groups, with the same information was primarily in alignment, but not without a few conversations to get there and some curious outliers to consider. Advised that a right wrong outcome was irrelevant, perception and interpretation became clearly pertinent.  Reaching a perhaps obvious determination that value is in the eye of the beholder, and potential inheritor.

With the enormity of this topic, justice cannot be done in a few paragraphs. I admit I have simply flirted with you.  However, not to leave you dejected, reimagine the following.
*Does your business operate at a level day in day out worthy of high multipliers when being evaluated for non-capital value? Are you consistently demonstrating best practices?
*How would a single incident alter your strategy and or operations? Are you prepared for the unplanned or unexpected in the moment, but more importantly beyond the immediacy of the significant event?
*Has ownership/management engaged in conversations and documented thoroughly visions? Are the key players communicating thoughts on and needs for future personal and business goals?
There is an abundance of possibilities for these answers. More questions and more responses. A trusted and qualified Advisor/Coach, an effective choice as a knowledgeable partner to work with through these essentials. When the work is done, success may be measured by the gap of multiple perceptions and personal interpretations as a manageable crack to fill in through thoughtful negotiation.    


ReImagine Possibilities, Inc. would like to encourage individuals, families and businesses (teams) through advising/coaching. Want to discuss "exit planning as business strategy"– please reach out to start a conversation.