How To Create A Leadership Growth Plan: Lesson #3

Growth is not an automatic process. We don’t get better without intentional effort. This new year could be a game changer for your career and impact if you choose to develop yourself like never before. This could be the year your future self thanks you for the rest of your life. So, what are you going to do to improve your skills as a leader? What will you do to go to a new level in your abilities this year?

Here is the third lesson:

Lesson #3: Create Your System

You are only as good as your system. Most people have lots of things they want to learn, but they don’t have a system to help them ensure they actually do it. If you don’t systemize your growth plan, you’ll likely never follow through with it. You can’t just say, “I want to read more.” Or “I want to watch more TED talks.” or “I want to take some courses to learn.” You have to turn it into a real challenge for yourself that has a place and time on the calendar.

The first thing I would ask you if we were sitting down is, “When do you intentionally take time to grow?” If you don’t tell me a specific time on the calendar you do this…you probably don’t. The most dedicated growers have a space in their schedule for growth. For me, I wake up each morning Monday-Friday and dedicate 30-60 minutes to my growth plan. The first thing I do when I wake up is going to my chair and take out the book I am going to read that morning.

I told you (Lesson #1) that I have five categories I grow in (Faith, Psychology, Leadership, Business, Innovation/Creativity). Each month I collect (Lesson #2) five books that I will read for that month. I dog-ear each book based on how many pages I have to read to finish that book each month. So, Monday is my faith-based book, Tuesday is psychology, Wednesday is leadership, Thursday is business, and Friday is Innovation/Creativity. I read my section for the day and catch up on the weekends if I don’t get through it. That is the system that I have been doing for over ten years now. Do I always hit it…no. Do I beat myself up for it…no. Do I keep going no matter what…yes! Do I read over 60 books a year this way…yes!

Now, don’t be intimidated or overwhelmed by my system…it’s what works for me. Many people hate reading more than one book at a time…great, do what works for you. The type of system isn’t as important as simply just having a system.

So, what system can you create to keep you disciplined and focused? Whatever you do, you need to make a real systemized habit that keeps you growing and consuming resources to maximize your potential. Start small and work your way up over time. I didn’t start with the system I currently have; that took me years of creating small disciplines that led to my current habit.

Next week I will unpack the next lesson on How To Create A Leadership Growth Plan…be ready!