How will you grow?

As leaders, one of our primary goals is to foster the growth of our business or organization. However, a critical factor that directly influences this growth is often overlooked: the growth of the people within the organization. And what determines the growth of people? It's the growth of the leader they report to.
Imagine a drink cup with a lid. The lid is there to keep the drink from spilling, but in leadership, it represents the limitations we place on ourselves. When we don't work on increasing our capabilities and overcoming our limitations, we essentially put a lid on the potential of those we lead. As leaders, we are asking people to follow us. If we limit ourselves, people will only travel as far as we do.

The Growth Lid
John C. Maxwell, in his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, describes the Law of the Lid, which states that an organization's potential is determined by the leader's ability. If a leader's ability rates at a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10, the organization will never perform above a 5. The leader is the lid on the organization's potential. To raise the lid, the leader must grow and develop themselves.
If you’re not growing, why would you expect your team to grow? Leadership is about setting an example. When you show a commitment to personal growth, you inspire and motivate your team to do the same. However, if you neglect your own development, you stifle the growth of those you lead.

The Cost of Stagnation
Consider this: you're leading someone who strives to grow, who has the potential to bring great value to the team and the organization. If you don't nurture that potential, you risk losing them. People go where they grow. If your organization doesn't provide opportunities for growth, they'll find it elsewhere.
In the Bible, Jesus emphasized the importance of growth and development. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the master entrusts his servants with talents (a form of money). The servants who invest and grow their talents are rewarded, while the one who does nothing with his is reprimanded. This parable teaches us the importance of using and developing our abilities. As leaders, we must invest in our own growth to effectively guide and grow our team.

Investing in Yourself
You will not be able to lead others until you invest in yourself first. Personal growth should be a continuous journey. Here are some practical steps you can take to invest in your growth:

Read and Learn: Commit to reading books, attending workshops, and learning from other leaders. Leadership is a skill that can always be improved.
Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback from your team and peers. Constructive criticism is a valuable tool for personal development.
Set Goals: Establish clear, achievable goals for your personal and professional growth. Regularly review and adjust these goals as needed.
Mentorship: Find a mentor who can guide you and provide wisdom from their own experiences. Likewise, mentor someone else; teaching is a powerful way to solidify your own learning.
Reflect and Adapt: Take time to reflect on your experiences and adapt your strategies accordingly. Self-reflection helps you understand your strengths and areas for improvement.
Growing with Intent
Growth doesn't happen by accident; it requires intentional effort. In 2 Peter 1:5-8, we are encouraged to "make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." This passage highlights a progression of growth, showing that each step builds upon the previous one. Similarly, in leadership, each stage of personal development strengthens our ability to lead effectively.
If you are looking to get better, the question you may want to ask yourself is, "How will you grow?" As leaders, we must prioritize our own growth to effectively lead others. When we remove the lids of our limitations, we create an environment where our team can flourish. Remember, the growth of your organization is a reflection of your growth as a leader. Invest in yourself, lead by example, and watch your team and organization reach new heights.