How Are You Growing in Your Leadership?
Think about the last time you attended a worthwhile seminar, conference, or class. Recall the last time you read a great book, listened to a helpful podcast, or watched an inspiring speech. What message stayed with you? Why was the experience impactful?
When you devote time to growth, especially leadership growth, you receive valuable information to evolve and get better. It takes intention to do this. Because of the many responsibilities on your desk, time for your own development may not be prioritized. Create the space for your next development activity by completing the following exercise:
Determine your preferred ways of learning. Pick no more than two to get started.
Learning comes in many forms: podcasts, books, live classes, recorded webinars, conferences, coaching, and classroom education are potential options. Which of these lead to the greatest growth for you? Which feel easy and fun while you're doing them? Select the two that give you the greatest ability to follow through.
Create a financial budget and time budget for your growth.
Could you go to a weeklong leadership seminar in Scottsdale? Possibly. Might you invest in a periodical's subscription and schedule 30 minutes every Thursday morning to read articles? Perhaps. What options does your employer offer for growth? Consider the key things you'll need to grow: leadership support, time, and money. Research the preferred ways of learning you identified above to find options that match your availability and budget.
Take notes on the learning activity and outcomes.
My favorite questions after an immersion in learning:
What were my biggest learns? This encompasses the a-ha moments and the not-so-great moments of every learning event.
What will I do differently going forward? Identify the ways you’ll implement the recently acquired knowledge to positively impact yourself and those you lead.
What new questions are now on my mind? This helps to guide future development opportunities.
Share the learns with your direct reports and your leader.
Curate a culture of development. Let your team know learning is a priority and encourage them to find ways to grow. Share what you're doing to learn and grow. Reinforce key takeaways from the activity with your team and leader. Learning can be contagious in the best of ways. Make it a standing item on your team meeting agendas to encourage everyone to grow together.
Development begins with you, and the intentional steps you take generate enhanced leadership skills. When you can clearly identify the best learning activities, your budget for development, and the time needed to fully engage, you will reap the benefits long after the activity occurs. So will your team.
Dr. Katie Stone is the founder of Together Evolving. Email Katie at katie.stone@togetherevolving.com to learn more about the transformational impact coaching has on you and your leadership.