Let’s talk about what John Maxwell calls “The Law of Process” – Leadership develops daily, but not *in* a day.
John identifies 5 phases of leadership development:
- “I don’t know what I don’t know” – Did you know that leadership is influence, and you can learn how to develop your skills influencing others – even if you’re not “the boss”?
- “I know that I need to know” – At this phase, you know that leadership is out there, and you need to figure something out about it.
- “I know what I don’t know” – Leaders in this phase are aware of their weaknesses and strengths and begin to develop coping strategies so that they can be effective.
- “I know and grow, and it starts to show” – Here’s where you start to get payoff – people intentionally watch you to see how you do it – your meetings run more smoothly, your projects run faster, you get more done, and people respect that.
- “I simply go because of what I know” – This is where you’ve practiced these principles so consistently that you do it out of habit – and you’re really effective because of it.
So… Where are you on this list?
What are you doing to get from the place you are today to the next level? What process do you have in place to make sure that you’re growing?
This week I spoke with a leader in the banking industry who knows he needs to grow his skills in lending. His “process” is that even though it’s not his responsiblity today, he started reviewing every loan that the bank issues. That way he expands his knowledge of the business climate and the process that the bank follows as it meets the needs of their clients. Great example of modifying his processes to grow his skills.
What books are you reading?
What seminars are you attending?
What sacrifices are you making to “Raise Your Game”?
Who you will be in five years is determined by the books you read and the people you spend time with. Choose wisely.
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