Jack Welch of GE fame once said, “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
I’m cool with this, but I would add “while continuing to grow yourself.”
There has never been a better time for doing this because of the number of options available to you. You’re wise to consider any one or a combination of these:
- Seminars in-person and online
- A wide range of podcasts
- Online educational courses
- Online instructional videos
- Books (traditional, digital, and audio), trade magazines, blogs
- Mentors and coaches
- Formal business school classes
Leadership Tip
In the spirit of taking action, perform a self-evaluation on how well you’re doing at growing others and yourself.
To start, ask these questions:
- What are 3 things I’m doing to contribute to the professional growth and development of my direct reports (and/or people in my entire organization)?
- What is one professional development activity I’m not providing my direct reports that I should be?
- What are 3 things I’m doing today that contribute to my own professional development as a leader?
- What is one professional development activity I’m not doing for myself that I should be?
If you are satisfied with the responses to these questions, congratulations! You are on the right track for engagement, loyalty, results, and successful leadership.
If you are not satisfied with the responses, don’t wait. Figure out what you can do before the end of this quarter, then give professional growth and development the focused attention it deserves. You owe it to yourself and your team.
