5 Surprising Places Young Leaders Can Grow

You know you’ve got to grow as a leader or you’ll become stagnant. And you know there’s places to grow.

The problem is, you don’t know where those places are.

You can grow in unconventional places

Image by JD Hancock

I’ve got good news for you today. I’m going to share with you 5 surprising places young leaders can grow. They’re a little unconventional (or unknown if you’re not in the know).

1. Local organizations: As a leader, you probably realize there’s local organizations like the chamber of commerce that can help you grow. But there’s more organizations than just the chamber.

You might want to check out your local

Young Urban Professionals group (I knew about larger organizations but was surprised to find out there was a local organization dedicated to young professionals)

Score Organization (Previously Service Corps of Retired Executives)

Toastmasters International (Learn how to speak well and give better presentations)

Enlist The Right People To Your Team

No man is an island. And no leader leads alone.

Every leader has the responsibility to fill his team with players who will take the organization to the next level.

Get the right people on your team - fist bump

Too often, we see leaders fill their teams with yes men or people just like themselves. There’s no diversity to their teams.

The lack of diversity also leads to another problem: Creativity will be limited.

I like what Brian Dodd says in his book The 2-Minute Leader:

Wise leaders don’t seek out people who are just like them. If someone doesn’t fit your mold, that is probably a very good thing.

Why Your Clones Aren’t Good

We want to be around people who are like us. They bring us comfort and we know how to relate to them.

They’re just like us, after all.

JFK Quote on learning and leadership

The Importance Of Stretching Your Leadership With Jon Stolpe

The Answers From Leadership Podcast Episode 30

Leadership requires a constant stretching of our current skill set. Answers From Leadership podcast guest Jon Stolpe knows this all too well.

Jon is a Christ-follower first and foremost, and also a husband and father. He’s an engineer by background and serves as an operations manager for a local branch of a major international building automation company.

I’m excited for Jon to share about his experience stretching and leading in his family and the organization he works for.

Jon Stolpe on Answers From Leadership Podcast

Listen To The Answers From Leadership Podcast

Show Notes:

Jon, what else would you like listeners to know about you?

First, thanks for the opportunity to be on your podcast. I’ve become friends with you through the blog world.

A little bit about me. I’m an engineer. I went to school for engineering. Later, I went to get my MBA. And I’m an operations manager for a large manufacturer in Philadelphia.

Never when in authority rebuke anyone in anger, but only when anger has passed away; and so shall the rebuke bring forth good fruit.