Great Leaders Grow

1. Leadership is a choice to serve others and grow continuously

"Great leaders SERVE."

Leadership as service. The essence of leadership is not about power or position, but about serving others and helping them succeed. This mindset shift from self-serving to others-serving is fundamental to becoming an effective leader. It requires a conscious choice to prioritize the needs of the team and organization over personal gain.

Continuous growth. Leadership is a journey of constant learning and improvement. Great leaders recognize that their capacity to lead is directly tied to their capacity to grow. They embrace challenges as opportunities for development and actively seek out ways to expand their knowledge, skills, and wisdom.

Key elements of servant leadership:

• Putting others' needs first
• Empowering team members
• Fostering a culture of growth and development
• Leading by example

2. Gaining knowledge is the foundation of leadership growth

"Your capacity to GROW determines your capacity to lead."

Self-knowledge. Effective leaders start by understanding themselves deeply. This includes recognizing their strengths, weaknesses, values, and leadership style. Self-awareness allows leaders to leverage their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses.

Knowledge of others. Great leaders invest time in understanding their team members, colleagues, and stakeholders. This includes learning about their backgrounds, motivations, strengths, and aspirations. Deep knowledge of others enables leaders to inspire, motivate, and develop their people more effectively.

Industry and leadership knowledge. Leaders must stay current with industry trends, best practices, and leadership principles. This ongoing learning process involves:

• Reading books and articles
• Attending conferences and workshops
• Seeking mentorship and coaching
• Analyzing case studies and success stories
• Experimenting with new leadership techniques

3. Reaching out to others accelerates leadership development

"One of the best ways to learn is to teach."

Teaching as learning. When leaders share their knowledge and experiences with others, they deepen their own understanding and reinforce their learning. Teaching also helps leaders identify gaps in their knowledge and encourages them to seek further growth.

Mentoring relationships. Engaging in mentoring relationships, both as a mentor and mentee, provides valuable opportunities for growth. Mentors gain fresh perspectives and insights from their mentees, while mentees benefit from the wisdom and experience of their mentors.

Ways to reach out to others:

• Offer to mentor emerging leaders
• Share lessons learned with colleagues
• Participate in cross-functional projects
• Volunteer to lead training sessions
• Seek feedback and advice from peers and superiors

4. Opening your world expands leadership potential

"The more experiences we have, both in life and at work, the more colors we have at our disposal."

Diverse experiences. Leaders who actively seek out new and diverse experiences broaden their perspective and enhance their problem-solving abilities. This includes exploring opportunities both within and outside of work.

Challenging comfort zones. By deliberately stepping out of their comfort zones, leaders develop adaptability, resilience, and creativity. These qualities are essential for navigating the complex and ever-changing business landscape.

Ways to open your world:

• Take on cross-functional assignments
• Learn a new language or skill
• Travel to unfamiliar places
• Engage in volunteer work
• Pursue hobbies unrelated to your profession
• Attend cultural events and exhibitions

5. Walking toward wisdom is essential for long-term leadership success

"Growth is always the result of challenge."

Pursuit of wisdom. True leadership wisdom goes beyond knowledge and experience. It involves the ability to apply insights, make sound judgments, and navigate complex situations effectively. Walking toward wisdom is a lifelong journey that requires intentional effort and reflection.

Four elements of wisdom. Leaders can cultivate wisdom through:

1. Rigorous self-evaluation: Regularly assessing one's actions, decisions, and impact
2. Honest feedback: Actively seeking and acting on feedback from others
3. Counsel from others: Leveraging the wisdom of mentors, peers, and advisors
4. Time and reflection: Allowing experiences to mature into insights through reflection

Practical steps to grow in wisdom:

• Keep a leadership journal
• Regularly seek feedback from diverse sources
• Develop a personal board of advisors
• Practice mindfulness and reflection
• Study the decisions and philosophies of great leaders

6. Great leaders create a culture of growth in their organizations

"Being a leader dedicated to lifelong learning and personal growth is not the same as creating a culture of growth."

Leading by example. Leaders must model the growth mindset they wish to see in their organizations. By openly sharing their own learning journeys and challenges, leaders inspire others to embrace continuous improvement.

Fostering a learning environment. Creating a culture of growth involves more than individual efforts. Leaders must implement systems and processes that encourage and reward learning and development throughout the organization.

Strategies for building a growth culture:

• Provide resources and time for learning
• Celebrate failures as learning opportunities
• Implement mentoring and coaching programs
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration
• Recognize and reward continuous improvement efforts
• Incorporate learning goals into performance reviews

7. Effective leaders balance personal growth with organizational results

"Performance pays the bills."

Results-oriented growth. While personal growth is crucial for leadership development, it must ultimately translate into tangible results for the organization. Effective leaders strike a balance between their own development and the achievement of organizational goals.

Practical application. Leaders must constantly seek ways to apply their growing knowledge and skills to improve team performance, solve organizational challenges, and drive business results.

Balancing growth and results:

• Set clear performance expectations alongside development goals
• Align personal learning objectives with organizational priorities
• Regularly assess the impact of personal growth on team and organizational outcomes
• Encourage team members to apply new skills and knowledge to current projects
• Use challenges and setbacks as opportunities for both personal and organizational growth

Last updated: September 28, 2024