We know great leaders continue growing even after formal education. They also help their teams to grow.
I’ve shared how to create an environment of growth before. Today, I want to take it a bit deeper and give you 5 more ways to help your team grow.
Our main goal, other than leading the organization towards it’s goal, should be to create leaders. Whether it’s to take our place or to come alongside us, we need to be growing new leaders.
The best way to do this is to help people grow. There’s many ways to do this but I want to focus on 5 ways you can help others grow.
1. Grow yourself: Jack Welch once said “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” So what does this mean? This means we need to focus on ourselves and grow. Get to the level where you know more than someone else.
When you reach this level, it’s time for you to grow others. Begin sharing what you’ve learned. Help others up to the level you’ve raised up to. Use your knowledge and growth to grow your team.
2. Take action: I can’t remember a leader that’s inspired me that hasn’t taken action on a goal or a dream. Every inspiring leader that has encouraged my growth has been an action taker.
Action encourages growth because action changes things. When you put one foot in front of the other, things happen. Action inspires growth.
Be a leader who’s ready to take action when needed. Inspire your team to do the same.
3. Be willing to serve: Jesus was the truest leader of all. One way he helped others grow was by serving them.
He got down and dirty with the least of them. He touched people. He healed them. He fed them.
Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.
— Jesus
Jesus was willing to get down on the level of those he served in order to help them grow. Are you willing to serve others?
4. Be a connector: If you’ve been building relationships throughout your leadership, you’ve got plenty of connections. You’ll have business connections, community connections, and friendship connections. You have access to people young leaders could only dream of having.
Be willing to connect your team members to your connections. Make introductions. Share the talents of your team with those you know. Let your team become involved in your community.
This will help your team form new connections of their own. They’ll form relationships and generate new ideas with those within your own sphere. Let them and encourage them to do so.
5. Show them where the opportunities are: Whether it’s within the organization or through one of your connections, help your team become aware of opportunities for growth.
Encourage them to apply for new positions within the company. Help them take on volunteer opportunities that will stretch and grow them. Push them towards opportunities at different companies.
When you open their eyes to the opportunities around them, they’re able to grow and expand their possibilities. Don’t hold back because you’re fearful they might leave. Give them every opportunity you can, even if it means they might leave.
It’s our responsibility to help our team to grow. Don’t take it lightly.
Do your best to give your team the chance to grow. Use the suggestions given in this post. Next, read the comment section to see what other ways people have to help teams grow. Then leave your own suggestion on how to help your team grow.
Question: How do you help your team to grow? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.