Utilizing the Legacy that Shaped My Life and My Leadership
By Becky Hickman | Becky Hickman & Associates
The best leadership development program I ever received didn't happen in a classroom. It happened at the dinner table, in the woodshop, and in long conversations with my dad.
My dad never handed me a leadership framework. He just lived one every single day. It took me years to realize he had already taught me everything I needed to know.
Some legacies are written in achievements. My father's legacy was one of quiet strength, lots of laughter, and always asking curious questions. He lived by seven simple statements every day. They shaped the way he loved, worked, learned, and showed up in the lives of those around him.
As I've grown into my work as a learning and development leader, I've discovered that these seven statements are more than family wisdom. They are a guideline for leaders, especially for those of us who spend our lives helping others grow and develop.
As I was traveling home from a recent training workshop, my thoughts started to align with my dad's legacy. I believe they are listed in the order they shaped me.
Today, I want to share them with you as I joyfully remember my dad in a very special way.
1. Faith in God: Leading with Centeredness
My dad's faith wasn't loud. It was steady. It grounded him, guided him, and gave him clarity every day, especially when life was uncertain. He often shared that our faith was very personal to each one of us. We should never look at other people and their faith, as they are not on the journey we are walking.
I remember watching him sit quietly with his coffee before the rest of the house woke up. I didn't understand it then. I do now.
In leadership, centeredness matters. L&D leaders in the financial industry face constant change, new regulations, shifting expectations, and evolving skills. Faith, however, you define it, gives you a place to stand. It reminds you that leadership is not just what you do, but who you are becoming.
💭 What gives you a place to stand when everything around you is shifting?
2. Love of Family: Leading with Humanity
Family was everything to my dad. He never missed a game, a recital, or a hard conversation. He showed up, he listened, he cared.
In L&D, humanity is our superpower. We are at our best when we see people not as mere completions of training workshops or compliance requirements, but as human beings with stories, strengths, and potential. When we lead with humanity, we build trust. And trust is the foundation of every learning culture.
💭 Who on your team do you see as a whole person — not just a role?
3. Thirst for Knowledge: Leading with Curiosity
My dad was endlessly curious. He asked questions, read constantly, and often reminded us there was always something new to learn. He'd write key phrases on a piece of paper and lay them around the house. Not sure he intended for us to read them, but we did. I think he knew we would find them and ask him what they meant.
Curiosity is essential for L&D leaders. It helps us diagnose real problems, understand the business, and design learning that actually matters. Curiosity keeps us from becoming order takers and transforms us into strategic partners.
💭When did a question change the direction of your work?
4. Drive for Learning: Leading with Growth
Knowledge is what you seek. Learning is what you practice.
My dad didn't just want to know things he wanted to grow. He believed in discipline, consistency, and the daily work of becoming better.
In our line of work, growth is not optional. We model it. We teach it. We create environments where others can experience it. When we commit to our own learning, we lead with integrity. Prioritize your own learning plan first every day, before you help others learn.
💭 What does your personal learning plan look like right now?
5. Great Work Ethic: Leading with Excellence
My dad worked hard, physically and mentally. Never for recognition, but because excellence mattered to him personally. He never talked about how hard he worked. He just worked. And we all noticed.
In L&D, excellence shows up in the details, in the clarity of a learning objective, the quality of a conversation, and the follow-through after a workshop. Excellence builds credibility. Credibility builds influence. And influence is what allows us to shape culture.
💭 What does excellence look like in the details of your work this week?
6. Entrepreneurial Spirit: Leading with Innovation
My dad had the courage to build things that didn't exist yet. I remember him experimenting with corn to make ethanol as a fuel replacement. I remember him spending hours creating metal carving tools to cut beautiful designs into wood. I often said, "Dad, I don't see how that is going to work!" My dad saw possibilities where others saw limitations.
L&D leaders need that same entrepreneurial spirit. We are innovators. Architects. Builders of experiences that help people grow. When we think like entrepreneurs, we stop reacting and start creating. We become proactive partners in shaping the future of our organizations.
Build time into your schedule to create experiences, not just deliver them.
💭 Where in your work are you reacting when you could be creating?
7. Sense of Humor: Leading with Joy
My dad loved to laugh. He believed joy made the hard things easier and the good things even better.
When he was in physical therapy after he fell and broke his hip, I remember walking in and the therapist and nurses were laughing. He connected with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren through practical jokes. And we all laughed.
In learning, humor is a gift. It lowers defenses, increases engagement, and reminds people that growth doesn't have to be heavy. Joy is not a distraction from the work; it is a vital part of the work. It keeps us human.
💭 When did laughter make a hard moment easier in your training room?
The Legacy Lives On: In the Work
These seven values aren't just how I live, they're how I work.
Every training program I design, every leader I coach, every room I walk into I bring all seven with me. They remind me that leadership is not about perfection. It's about purpose. It's about living in a way that leaves others better.
My dad lived that way. I'm seeing it play out now in my adult children and their children. And I hope, in some meaningful way, I do too.
If you're building a learning culture in your organization and you want a partner who leads with heart and delivers results. I'd love to connect. Let's talk about what your people need to grow.
Thank You
Thank you for letting me share him with you.
The seven statements are more than my memories. They are the values that guide me in how I lead, how I teach, and how I show up for my people. Every time I design a learning experience, partner with a leader, or stand in front of a room, I carry these seven statements with me.
Join the Conversation
Which of these seven values resonates most with your leadership style right now? Drop it in the comments, I'd love to hear your story. 💛
And if you're ready to grow your people and strengthen your learning culture, let's connect.