To Have a Future, You Have to Grow by Ken Blanchard
Change today is a way of life. If you’re not growing and learning, you’re going backwards — both as an individual and an organization.
Today’s business environment features almost daily changes in technology, which contribute to an ever-shrinking world. Everyone is dealing with brighter, more informed customers and greater overall competition.
The world is moving too fast to rely on past success and past knowledge. People who care about advancing their career and who want to be seen as valuable in today’s workplace must continue to grow.
How are you doing when it comes to growth? Have you become complacent? Have you allowed the general economic doldrums to lull you into an “I’ll worry about growth later, when the economy improves,” attitude? Organizations that are growing and progressing aren’t waiting for a better time in the future. Leaders at companies such as Southwest Airlines, Chick-fil-A, Nordstrom, or Wegmans are constantly reevaluating what they are doing as an organization and creating opportunities for their people to learn and grow.
Great Leaders GROW
For leaders and others who may not have thought much about personal growth in the past and want to know the best areas to focus on, Mark Miller and I have defined four aspects of growth in our new book, Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life. These four areas are represented by the letters G-R-O-W.
Gain Knowledge is the “G” in the four-letter GROW model. Gaining knowledge means learning about yourself, others, your industry, and leadership in general. The more you know about these four areas, the better you will be able to relate to those around you and the more you will be able to offer your organization.
The “R” in the GROW model stands for Reach Out to Others. Be proactive about helping others grow by teaching others what you know, whether through formal training, informal conversations, or even story telling. One of the best ways to really learn something is to reach out to others and teach it. Always be on the lookout for teachable moments.
The “O” reminds you to Open Your World. Experience new things. Nurture new relationships with colleagues and neighbors. Develop new skills, both at work and outside of work. Opening your world will inform your leadership for the rest of your life. Learn a new software program, a new language, or anything else that will lead to improvement and growth.
The “W” in the GROW model is an encouragement to Walk toward Wisdom. This is a lifelong pursuit. Through sincere self-evaluation and honest feedback and counsel from others, you will continue to move forward and improve in the areas where you need to grow.
Leadership is not about you, it’s about the people you serve. Make yourself more valuable to your people and your organization by continuing to grow so you can best serve others.
Your capacity to learn and grow determines your capacity to lead. Each of us has a stewardship opportunity to maximize the talents and gifts that have been entrusted to us. If you are not learning and growing, how can you expect others to grow? Focus on the four aspects of growth in the GROW model and start growing today!
© 2012 Ken Blanchard, co-author of Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life
Ken Blanchard, co-author of Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life, is cofounder and chief spiritual officer of the Ken Blanchard Companies. He is the author or coauthor of 50 books that have sold more than 20 million copies, including the iconic bestseller, The One Minute Manager®.
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For more information on the book please visit http://greatleadersgrow.com
Ken Blanchard, co-author of Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life, is cofounder and chief spiritual officer of the Ken Blanchard Companies. He is the author or coauthor of 50 books that have sold more than 20 million copies, including the iconic bestseller, The One Minute Manager®.
