For the next several articles in this column, we will study and learn from the recently published book by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller titled, Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life. The book is published by Berrett-Koehler Publications and is available wherever best selling books are sold. I encourage you to purchase a copy and study the book as we learn and apply what we learn.
The authors ask, “have you ever:
- Felt like you could lead at a higher level but you weren’t quite sure how to get there?
- Wondered how to strengthen your influence and increase your impact?
- Considered what enables some leaders to soar above all the others?”
The authors believe, and through specific content and examples, make an excellent case that “the path to increased influence, impact, and leadership effectiveness is paved with personal growth.” They believe that growth is at the core of what creates and sustains great leaders.
“Growing for a leader is like oxygen to a deep sea diver: without it you die.” Stop growing and your influence erodes. Stop growing and you may eventually lose the opportunity to lead at all.
The authors make the case that “the failure to grow sabotages the career of more leaders than anything else. Our capacity to grow determines our capacity to lead. It’s really that simple. However, simple doesn’t mean easy. Like most of life’s powerful principles, the power is in the application.”
You are invited to join us as we learn, relearn, and apply the critical life and leadership principles and lessons contained within this relatively short book. For maximum impact and effectiveness, purchase a copy of the book in whatever format you prefer to read. Join the journey.
If you are serious, you cannot help but learn and improve by committing or recommitting to the daily application of critical aspects of your leadership journey!
