Plan to Grow

Personal growth should be the leader’s highest priority. I liken it to the admonition you hear when flying: “In the event of an emergency, put your own oxygen mask on first.” The question therefore becomes, “What are YOU doing to grow?”

This is not a trivial question. If you advocate for personal growth, be prepared for someone on your team to ask you the same question. If you’re not walking the talk, you’ll have zero credibility with those you’re charged to lead.

In the book I wrote with Ken Blanchard, Great Leaders Grow, we talk about these four strategies you can use on your growth journey:

• Gain Knowledge – I’m always looking for ways to do this: reading, conferences, time with my new team members one-on-one, and more. I’m also part of an ongoing group focused on studying the topic of leadership. We’ve been meeting twice a month for 30+ years. This group has been a steady source of inspiration, challenge, accountability, and personal growth.
• Reach Out to Others – The predominant way I’m attempting to execute on this strategy is through my writing. If you’ve not read Great Leaders Grow, here’s the quick summary of this idea: Once you commit to share what you’re learning, it puts pressure on you to keep learning.
• Open Your World – Over the years, this has been a fun strategy for me. I’ve learned to scuba dive, climb mountains, and run marathons.
• Walk Towards Wisdom – This strategy is fueled by questions, council, and feedback.

Personal growth for leaders is not automatic, but it is essential.

As you can tell, there’s nothing magical about these developmental activities. What matters most is that you and I are intentional concerning our growth.

Enjoy the journey!