Leaders Commit to Growth

Personal stagnation is the cause of decay and failure in most people’s lives. It’s also the cause of failure in most organizations. As soon as a person or organization stops growing, they start dying. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to cultivate an environment of personal growth. If we’re not participating in personal growth and development, we can’t expect our organizations to grow. Authentic leaders have to be the shining example of ascending to the next level. 

In his book 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, author John Maxwell explains the Law of the Lid. He explains that our leadership capabilities can place a “lid” on our future. Poor leadership caps the potential of organizations. Why is that? Ultimately, a successful organization must be more significant than an individual. A true leader is only as successful as his/her team. Maxwell writes that leadership ability is always the lid on personal and organizational effectiveness. If a person’s leadership is strong, the organization’s “lid” is high. But if it’s not, then the organization is limited. Leaders must commit to growing. 

Leaders Commit to Integrity

Quick story…

I attended a leadership event a few years ago. A dynamic trainer was speaking at the event. He was full of charisma and was articulate in his speech. He was funny, eloquent, and inspiring. His training impressed everyone. But there was one big problem. I found out a few years later that he had a pattern of being unfaithful to his wife. 

Nothing will burn down an organization or company faster than a leader who compromises his/her integrity. How you do anything is how you do everything. An individual who will cheat on his/her spouse will cheat on you. Long-term success can never come from compromising integrity. Time will either promote you or expose you. The one thing that matters most in building healthy organizations is trust. Leaders must commit to integrity and character. A good reputation takes years to cultivate but can be destroyed by one wrong decision. 

Good leadership is critical in building successful teams. An effective leader can inspire everyone in his/her sphere of influence. Never underestimate the value of human capital. It is the differentiator between health and dysfunction. Leaders who commit to growth and integrity will attract other leaders that will propel an organization to thrive. 

I would love to hear what your biggest takeaway was from this post. Please comment below, and if you feel like this can add some value to some others, feel free to share it.

Take care! 

Bill