What Does It Mean to Grow Leadership?

While leadership development has been a longtime passion, Growing Leadership LLC was formally created just five years ago on March 26, 2018 -- so happy birthday! 

But, what does it mean to grow leadership?

My thinking is that it embraces two core ideas.  First is the internal perspective: as leaders we must never stop growing. As leadership guru Jim Kouzes writes in his book Learning Leadership, “The best leaders are the best learners.”  This means constantly reflecting on our actions and behaviors – what has worked well and what can we do better. Ask yourself, how can I increase my effectiveness going forward and what specific actions should I take to up my leadership game?

Second, effective leadership is about growing new leaders, helping co-workers and others to unlock their leadership potential. Each of us has an opportunity to look beyond ourselves at how we can positively influence and encourage others. Acknowledging positive actions matters as does constructive feedback offered in the spirit of the great Abraham Lincoln quote: “He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.”

We each have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, including our own. Don’t underestimate your impact! 

Douglass Teschner, Ed.D.