Creating a Personal Plan for Growth

In John Maxwell’s Leadership Wired news letter earlier this week, he talks about things to consider when creating a plan to grow. Making growth an intentional event is something I have incorporated in my own life for a very long time. John makes the comment that without a plan, you’re growing nowhere.

Growth, I might add, is not a single event. It is a process of progressive development – good or bad. Growth and Change go hand in hand. While it is very popular to brand one’s self as a “change agent”, it’s important to qualify this in terms of positive growth. Linking the two with positive results adds value not only to you, but to your organization or team.

John also points out that growth is not a happy accident or an automatic process. He states, “if you want to guarantee growth, then you need a plan – something strategic, specific, and scheduled.” 

Here are some of his suggestions for creating a simple plan for intentional growth:

1. Set aside time to grow. All the great thinkers in the areas of leadership and time management will tell you that the secret to your success in anything will start with your daily agenda. You will never change your life until you change what you do daily.
2. Identify your areas of growth. Start with your strengths and consider expanding their boundaries. Success comes when we identify our natural talents, and then work diligently to develop them into extraordinary skills.
3. Find resources in your area of growth. Be hungry for insights and knowledge and develop a system for storing it up for eventual use.
4. Apply what you have learned. Look for opportunities to apply what you have learned and exercise your skills. One method is to share what you have learned with some else within 24 hours. 

As John states, growth is a great separator of those who succeed and those who don’t. To further help in creating a growth plan, consider asking yourself these questions:

When are you growing?

In which areas are you growing?

Who is helping you to grow?

How are you applying what you have learned?

Question: Do you have a solid answer to each of these questions?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’d like to know what you think. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below.