By Michael Gidlewski

How you got you to where you are today is not enough to keep you there.

Ask yourself this question: Are you moving forward every day or backward? No matter what you are doing today, you need to be doing it considerably better or differently if you want to still be in business a year from now. You can never be satisfied with your current level of performance because you’re on the escalator of business – you’re going up the escalator or down the escalator.

As a leader, you’re growing your organization and your people or you’re dying; you’re proactive or reactive; you’re progressing or regressing; you’re creating or you’re disintegrating. You see, there is no standing still anymore. Every thought you think produces an action that moves you either closer to your goals or farther away. You choose daily which direction you are moving and only you get to make that choice. How many of you want to make sure you are gaining ground?

Leaders often forget that their own personal growth determines the growth of their followers. John Maxwell calls this the law of the lid. The leader’s growth determines the potential of the organization. No organization, no group of people can outgrow the leader. If the CEO of an organization is not committed to his or her own growth, then the organization will eventually fail.

Far too many leaders in organizations that have stopped growing blame their people for poor results. These leaders may pick apart every little thing someone does. These leaders run around looking for something that is wrong, and jump all over their team about it. They become the ultimate micro-managers. As a leader, you set the example for your people. If your organization is not growing and you want to find out why, start by looking at yourself.

Don’t be the lid for your organization or for any group of people you lead. Commit yourself to a personal growth and development program. Become a life-long learner and encourage that from your team. You can never stop learning and growing because the alternative is a slow death of yourself and your organization.

Lack of employee engagement is the No. 1 issue currently facing business leaders today, and it is a serious one. Research shows that many employees leave organizations because of the leader or manager they work for. They get very little support and encouragement to really use their skills and tap into their potential to make a difference in the organization.

Great leaders see the potential within each person they manage and encourage and coach them day by day to challenge them to step out of the comfort zone a little at a time, to stretch, and to grow.

Helping your people grow will be extremely satisfying for them personally and will benefit the organization, whether it’s in terms of growing and improving the profitability of your business, reaching certain performance targets, accelerating your own career, or realizing other personal benefits and rewards that come from helping your people tap into their own potential. Employees who are learning and growing are much more likely to stay with the organization for a longer period of time.

It all starts with you!

If you are a business owner, COO, or CEO, we are offering a free assessment that gives you valuable insight into your behaviors, motivators, and emotional intelligence. E-mail me at michael@achievable.com to receive your free assessment. Start your journey to leadership mastery with necessary self-awareness and suggestions for personal development. Don’t miss this opportunity! The offer expires Sept. 14, 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uCr7ElhTGE&feature=youtu.be

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Michael Gidlewski is President of West Chester-based Achievement Unlimited, Inc., as well as a growth catalyst and motivational speaker. He works with motivated business owners and entrepreneurs to clearly define the elements of what they dearly want their businesses and lives to look like, then helps them connect all the moving parts that make up those visions to consistent action and habits. Michael can be reached at 610-793-6609 or via e-mail at michael@achievable.com.

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