From Survival Mode to Redefining Legacy: Reflections from #CISHRP

Today’s Cayman Islands Society for HR Professionals event left me reflective — and deeply aware of a truth we don’t always speak out loud in leadership circles:

We are in survival mode.

Not in theory. Not as a metaphor. But in the very real sense of running on empty — emotionally, mentally, and operationally.

And there’s a cost.

When leaders are in survival mode too long:

• Decision-making narrows.
• Creativity shuts down.
• Culture contracts.
• People burn out.
• Strategic thinking becomes a luxury we think we can’t afford.

In the midst of this, Prudence Potter’s #POVfromPrudence offered a powerful reminder:

Leadership isn’t just about building a future legacy — it’s about redefining legacy in the present.

That hit home. Because if we’re only surviving, we’re not shaping the future — we’re delaying it.

And during the panel on coaching, Jennifer Card gave voice to something I’ve seen (and felt) many times:

Leaders are still holding hot potatoes — unspoken tensions, unresolved issues, and responsibilities no one wants to touch.

These metaphors aren’t just clever — they’re painfully accurate.

But there is a way forward. It requires three critical shifts to move out of survival and into sustainability — and eventually, into a redefined legacy:

1. Survival mode is not a strategy. We must name it, normalize it, and intentionally design beyond it. It’s a signal, not a status quo.
2. Legacy is not a future idea — it’s a present practice. Every choice made under pressure is shaping how we’re remembered and how our people feel. That is legacy in motion.
3. Coaching isn’t a perk — it’s a pathway. Leaders need spaces to unpack, reframe, and let go. Coaching helps turn “hot potatoes” into clarity, confidence, and courageous action.

None of these shifts are easy. But they are essential.

If you’re reading this and feeling like you’re barely keeping up — you’re not alone. Survival mode might be where we are, but it doesn’t have to be where we stay.

What’s one shift you could make this week to move toward sustainability — for yourself or your team?