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Early in my career, I worked with an organization that was struggling with infighting on one of their teams. After working with them for a little while, I realized that there were two issues the team's manager struggled with: A lack of accountability and a tendency to avoid conflict.
About a year later, I was asked back to the organization. A different department was struggling. I discovered that their director didn't provide accountability and tended to avoid conflict.
Another year went by and I received a call from the executive team. They were struggling. As I explored this, it became clear that the CEO didn't provide accountability and avoided conflict.
Leadership development is personal development
Many executives are appropriately concerned about growing their teams and future leaders.
But many misunderstand how this is best done. Most focus on getting more knowledge or skills into people. So, they invest in training, certificate programs or degrees.
These can be valuable and absolutely worth the investment. But often they produce confidence (or just prettier resumes) without results.
What if I told you that one of the best ways to build the people around you—was to focus on yourself?
The most powerful method for a leader to build others is to actually work on building themselves.
Consider parenting. I have three kids. Each one is a reminder that I'm not a parenting expert. In fact, I've noticed that most parenting experts don't talk about their own children very often!
But I do know this: My accidental impact is usually greater than my intentional impact. How I relate to life, my wife and my kids speaks louder than any parenting tool I could use.
If how I relate to life, my wife and the kids seems to matter most—then that is where my efforts should be focused. If I work on my "stuff" (my tendencies to be impatient, perfectionistic, not wanting to be bothered, etc.), whatever else I do as a father will probably be more on target.
It's the same for leaders. If we work on our "stuff," our leadership will just naturally improve—especially our ability to build the people around us. It will just happen.
5 areas of personal growth you'll want to target:
Humility: Don't compare yourself to others. Arrogance or insecurity isn't just the opposite of humility—they are an entirely different thing. And both are an insistence on seeing ourselves and others through the lens of comparison.
Performance can and should be measured. But personal worth doesn't fit on a scale.
Courage:Leaders face fear regularly. Fear of making the wrong decision, failure, conflict or confrontation, not measuring up, and all the "what ifs." Effective leaders still feel that fear, but choose to make the right decision regardless of how they feel.
Self-management:This includes the ability to manage priorities, attitudes and emotions. It also includes the ability to make and follow through on commitments.
Leaders who manage themselves well are more likely to find that their people do as well. Leaders who constantly "firefight" are poor self-managers. (Even if they often seem like heroes, sweeping in to save the day.)
Abundance mentality:This is the belief in two things: Firstly, there is more than enough.
Secondly, what is needed can be created or found.
The first combats envy and resentment—in the workplace this often looks like turf battles or information hoarding. The second sparks the creativity, drive and innovation of the entrepreneurial spirit.
Servant-heartedness:Here's a challenging thought from Jesus, "Whoever wishes to be great among you, shall be your servant. Whoever wishes to be first among you will become your slave."
Servant-hearted leadership is focused on others, not on self. Self-focused leadership builds self-focused teams. Servant leadership builds teams that serve each other and others.
As you grow, they grow
As you grow in these five areas, you'll find that the people around you will start to grow as well.
These traits shape culture. Culture shapes decisions and behavior.
Now, the trainings, retreats, and coaching may all still be great options.
But one of the best and more impactful options is the example you set. Because you are shaping those you lead.
The example you set is somehow mirrored in the patterns of decisions and behaviors of those you lead.
Something to think about.
 | Christian Muntean is a seasoned expert in fostering business growth and profitability. With a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and certifications as a Master Coach, Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and International Mergers & Acquisitions Expert (IM&A), he guides entrepreneurial leaders through growth, succession planning, and exit strategies. He is an accomplished author of three books, including Train to Lead. Christian resides in Anchorage, Alaska, with his family. Learn More » |
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