Part 3: Generational Stories – The Narratives That Outlasted Their Truth

Some stories stay in leadership far longer than they should. We pass them down like heirlooms: unquestioned, untested, and often untrue.

These generational stories sound like:
“This is how it’s always been.”
“That’s not how we do things here.”
“If it worked then, it’ll work now.”

But leadership doesn’t age well when it refuses to evolve. Let’s be clear: Tradition is not the enemy. But blind tradition? That’s organizational quicksand.

If your team is still quoting 1990s best practices in a 2030-bound world, you’re not leading; you’re reenacting generational nostalgia.

I once worked with a district still using the same onboarding system from 2001. When I asked why, the director said, “It was designed by a legend. We’re honoring her legacy.” I responded, “A true legacy evolves. If it stays stuck, it’s not legacy; it’s limitation.”

Limitless Leadership Strategy: Identify a generational story in your organization. 

Ask yourself:

• Is this belief still accurate?

• Is it serving our mission or just our memory?

• If I wasn’t taught this—would I choose it?

Then build a bridge from reverence to relevance. Honor the past by leading from the present. Because legacy launches you, your ideas, and your impact forward. 

Dr. Mary Hemphill