Growing up, I avoided reading at all costs. To me, books were just hurdles to pass a test. But as I headed to college, a mentor shared a piece of advice that changed my trajectory: “Leaders are readers.”
Shortly after, I read John Maxwell’s Becoming a Person of Influence. That was my lightbulb moment. I realized leadership isn’t about a corner office or a fancy title. Leadership is influence. It doesn’t end with you, but it must start with you.
The Warning Sign on Your Dashboard
The most dangerous place a leader can be is a plateau. When you feel like you have “arrived” and no longer need to grow, it should be a blinking red warning light on your life’s dashboard.
In today’s world, technology and markets change at breakneck speed. If you are so busy working in the business that you forget to work on yourself, you will eventually fall behind. You might have the title, but you will lose the moral authority that makes people want to follow you.
The “Mold” Problem: What Are You Replicating?
Leadership is a responsibility to learn because you are the “mold” for your organization. If the mold is flawed, every product that comes out of it is flawed.
For example, if a leader is a poor communicator, they don’t just struggle individually; they replicate a culture of poor communication. Before pointing fingers at your team’s performance, look in the mirror. Are you modeling the growth and skills you expect from them? As the saying goes, more is caught than taught.
How to Scale Your Growth
You don’t have to master everything at once. In fact, trying to do so leads to burnout. To stay ahead of the curve, focus on one growth area at a time. Whether it is reading books, listening to podcasts, or hiring a coach, the goal is to shift your “pathways thinking” of how to get from where you are to where you want to go.
When you invest in yourself, you fill your cup first, then have something of value to pour into others.
Until next time, make today GREAT!
P.S. Are you ready to level up your leadership? True leadership growth is a journey, not a destination. If you are ready to stop plateauing and start multiplying your impact, let’s talk. Visit ww.mcclurecoaching.com/free-strategy-session to apply for a free call where we’ll strategize a personal or team growth plan.
