Leadership Insights: Show Up and Step Out -- or Shut Up!

Personal growth is a demanding process. Also, it’s time consuming. For many, including me, it began with a shove, not a friendly nudge. So, why growth? And, why now?

Five Criteria to Consider

Here are some issues that should surface as I start down the growth path.

First – Why?

Why grow? Reasons vary but include the desire for professional accomplishment. Or, there’s a need for self-actualization due to the nagging fear that I’m not reaching my potential. For some, it’s just plain envy as they watch co-workers around them succeed. For others, they’re in a new position and realize they must grow rapidly in capacity and skill set in order to survive.

You can probably think of other reasons to start growing personally and professionally.

Second – Where?

Where should I start? In which aspect of my life do I want to grow? Professional development certainly is on the top of many lists. However, personal growth can be a factor if I recognize gaps in family relationships that need to be addressed. Similarly, some have a deep desire for spiritual growth.

Regardless of the life aspect chosen, I should identify an end state that becomes a goal for my growth. Often, that goal is stated in the form of a personal mission statement, as described in Brian Ahearn’s recent blog post in influencepeople.biz.

Third – What?

As in, what do I do to determine where I currently stand? Well, at this point we start taking assessment tests to measure our personality, strengths, weaknesses, decision style, emotional intelligence … you name it. These assessments establish that baseline from which we grow.

Fourth – Who?

That is, who do I want to become? I may define this in terms of a skill set, or a specific position or rank, or achievement of a degree/certification. Thus, I begin to envision who I would be once I reach this desired state of professionalism.

Fifth, How?

How can I grow? At this stage I begin to look for coaches. And seminars. Or books and online courses. In short, I find resources that I believe will move me forward on a path to growth. Moreover, as I engage with these resources for growth, I’ll begin to think deeply and critically about each of the prior questions.

Therefore, reflection and critical thinking is an important aspect of using the resources I select.

Thinking Critically

Because I blog on leadership topics from the book of Proverbs, here are three suggestions related to critical thinking from that collection of observations. I should think crucially about:

1. Myself as a Person, Proverbs 14.8. Critical thinking builds my self-awareness and reduces self-deception. I more clearly know who I am. Hence, I’m being proactive because I’m responsible for my life outcomes.
2. The End Point, Proverbs 22.3. Critical thinking produces foresight to see where I’m going with my growth. In other words, I begin with the end in mind.
3. A Path Forward, Proverbs 14.15. Critical thinking discerns a way forward. Thus, I have a clear path toward the goal. So, I take the next step. As such, I’m careful to make first things first.

Execute Persistently

In terms of Covey’s 7 Habits, you’ve certainly recognized Habits 1, 2, and 3 in the prior list from Proverbs! But, regardless of the source, we’re pushed to identify an area of career or life focus, carefully consider options, then be persistent in pursuit of that goal.

That said, here’s a simple framework for goal execution that’s borrowed from the wisdom literature:

• First, focus on the goal you’ve set by looking straight ahead.
• Then, use careful deliberation as to how you will reach that goal.
• Finally, be very persistent in execution of actions toward reaching the goal. Don’t get off into the weeds of distraction.

Will I Change?

Now, at some point in this process, I begin to surface discontent about my current state. Those concerns may be in the form of questions I ask myself.

A Google search on “move out of my comfort zone” produces hundreds of links to books, articles, videos, images with inspirational quotes, and other growth resources.

Basically, all have the same desired outcome – to recognize discomfort or loss (e.g., job loss) as a stimulus for growth. Unsurprisingly, this topic appears regularly on LinkedIn.

For instance, in a recent LinkedIn post – What if we create our own misery? - Mary Henderson produced a detailed set of questions that drew insightful comments from readers. Her point was, if I hate where I am why not do something about it?

Audrey Reille makes a similar point in her LinkedIn post “Choose One. You can’t have both.” She notes that growth and comfort don’t coexist.

Remember, “can I change” is a very different question from “will I change.” Given the available resources, “Can” is a given. Unfortunately, “will” requires I leave my comfort zone.

One reason I don’t take immediate action on uncomfortable life situations is I’m too busy being the victim while not busy enough being proactive!

My Personal Story

Like many others, I participated in employer-provided professional development opportunities throughout my career. As an academic, an interest in taking on an administrative role pushed me further into personal and professional growth.

However, a major impetus to grow was when I was passed over for an internal promotion. When I reached out to the hiring manager the answer was “…we want to go in a different direction…”

That said, I did respond to the suggestion that I become more externally oriented though board service in a volunteer organization. It was a great opportunity to build both interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

Furthermore, I identified and used several resources to assist in my own professional development.

For one, I worked with a senior executive to take stock of where I was at that point in my career. He referred to me as a “diamond in the rough” during one of our one-on-one counseling sessions. It was then that it became apparent to me that I had room for improvement beyond where I perceived I was at the time!

Another critical resource was a one-year fellowship through the American Council on Education (ACE) that was extremely valuable.

In addition, my superiors made possible several interim administrative roles that expanded my professional capabilities.

Several years later, I was offered the opportunity to take on the role that I had been passed on earlier. Thus, my personal story was one of delay but eventual accomplishment of a deeply desired career goal.

My growth was both personal and professional. On the personal side, I worked hard to improve self and social awareness, as well as my interpersonal and communication skills. On the professional side, I stayed active in an accreditation organization for business schools while, in parallel, growing in my knowledge of higher education administration.

In my role as dean, it was very satisfying to me to find the human and financial resources that assisted our business school in growing both numerically and in the quality of our graduates. Our national rankings were a testament to the capabilities and efforts of our faculty, students, and staff members.

My personal and professional growth requires that I move from my comfort zone to a different place, over time, by making deliberate and difficult choices.

The Bottom Line

So, it’s not enough to be unhappy with my current state of life or career.

It’s better, but insufficient to have a vision for my future.

In addition, efforts at evaluation and personal growth are great. But, again, are simply not enough.

Instead, what’s the next step I need to take toward my desired state?

When will I push myself out of the comfort zone of self-awareness into the uncomfortable arena of personal and professional growth?

If “No,” then shut up. Because, if I’m not willing to take on the discomfort of growth I risk staying exactly where I am – forever!

But, if “Yes,” then I should show up and step out!

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Dale Young, Ph.D., is an experienced leader who helps growth-oriented professionals apply the universal precepts, so they become wise hearted and wise behaving. Following a 30-year academic career that included a term of office as a business school dean, plus twelve years in industry, he’s now blogging at: https://proverbsforprofesionals.net