Insanely Practical Leadership, Session 1: How To Grow You

Welcome to a Leader Fluent Podcast Series based on my book, Insanely Practical Leadership: 12 No-Nonsense Keys to Master the Art of Leading Yourself and Others. For the next few podcast episodes, I’ll be sharing teaching from the Masterclass for the book. It’s a great way to get a taste of what’s in the book, and the insanely practical skills you’ll develop. You can learn more about Insanely Practical Leadership and the bonus content that goes with the book HERE.

Personal and professional growth help you become the person, and the leader, God intended for you to become. As a leader, you are responsible to own your growth. You can’t delegate it or negotiate it. You can’t relegate it or vacate it. In fact, authors Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller said it like this: “Growth for leaders is the treasure that funds the future journey. Stop finding the treasure along the way and the journey ends.” 

As a leader, you have a dream burning in your gut. But between you and your dream is a gap—a growth gap. And the only way to close that gap is to fund the journey toward your dream with the treasure of your growth. That happens when you get insanely practical about three keys: a growth mindset, a growth plan, and a growth team. 

1. Adopt a Growth Mindset

In the Gospel of Luke chapter 2 verse 52, it says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” Notice, Jesus’ growth was intentional and continual. He didn’t think about growing—He grew. And He wasn’t haphazard about growing—He grew mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. 

Without an intentional and continual growth mindset, we’ll view growth as nothing more than a one-time event. Events such as conferences and seminars are great at inspiring change, but the change doesn’t actually happen at the event. A process of growth must follow the event which then produces long-term habits of transformation. Simply put, events inspire change, process creates change, and habits sustain change. And it all starts with a growth mindset. 

2. Create a Growth Plan

I’ve developed a growth planning model that I call “Growth TRAC”—T-R-A-C. A Growth TRAC is a specific, measurable, and accountable plan for personal and professional growth. Each letter in the word “TRAC” stands for a word, and each word is accompanied by a question to help you create your own Growth TRAC. Let’s unpack it. 

The letter “T” in “TRAC” stands for Target, and the question is, “What are My Growth Goals?” Your growth goal is the target you’re aiming to hit. The letter “R” stands for Roadmap, and the question is, “How Do I Plan to Grow?” Your roadmap to reach your target is typically made up of things like training, resources, coaching, and experiences. 

The letter “A” stands for Accountability, and the question is, “Who Will Hold Me Accountable for My Growth?” None of us are good enough to reach our growth goals alone. That’s why we need friends and mentors in our lives to ask us questions and hold us accountable to grow. And finally, the letter “C” stands for Check-Up. The question is, “When and How Will I Evaluate My Growth Progress?” When you conduct regular check-ups on your growth progress, you’re able to make mid-course corrections to help you reach your growth goals. 

A Growth TRAC includes a Target, a Roadmap, Accountability, and Check-Ups. And when you follow your TRAC, it helps you intentionally grow. 

3. Assemble a Growth Team

Several years ago, Scott Wilson introduced me to the idea of a growth team. A growth team is a group of people who help you grow in the most important areas of your life. 

For example, if you’re married, your spouse will help you grow in your relationship with your family. But your growth team doesn’t end there. Prayer partners help us grow spiritually. Counselors help us grow emotionally. Coaches help us grow professionally, and financial advisors help us steward money wisely. Add to that friends and workout partners, and we find the help we need to grow relationally and physically. Together, this team helps us reach our growth potential.

So, to create your own growth team, start by identifying the primary roles and responsibilities in your life. Again, those might be spouse, parent, pastor, business leader, friend, and follower of Jesus.