CEOs hold the "top seat" in an organization. To get there, they must work hard to prove they are capable leaders and demonstrate they can handle being responsible for the company's performance, reputation and employee satisfaction. It takes a strong work ethic and an even stronger sense of tenacity. But does reaching the highest ranking position mean there is no more room to grow?
Personal growth is important for people at all ranks, even those who may have already ascended to the peaks of their careers.
Here are 8 thoughts on personal development for leaders.
1. Personal development does not equal career success. Many people approach personal development from the wrong angle. People often view personal development as something that leads to success — more specifically, career success. "It rarely occurs to anyone in our culture that someone (a Trappist monk for example) might become an artist, entrepreneur, leader or politician as a means to personal development and not the other way around," August Turak, author of Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks: One CEO's Quest for Meaning and Authenticity, wrote in Forbes.
Personal development is immediately limited when it is understood as something we pursue as a mechanism to get ahead in our careers. Personal development, personal growth, self-actualization, self-transcendence — or whatever each individual chooses to call it — is about being the most complete and best person you can possibly be. It's not a tool for reaching a larger goal, according to Mr. Turak.
2. Self-awareness is central to personal growth. The Harvard Business Review defines self-awareness as "understanding who we are and how we are similar to or different from others." A main aspect of self-awareness is self-knowledge — how we understand our own various personality traits, values, attitudes and behaviors. Another component of self-awareness is an accurate understanding of how consistent — or inconsistent — our self-view is compared to how others perceive us or against objective data.
Cultivating a strong sense of self-awareness sets a baseline for personal growth. It is also integral to serving in a leadership role, because to lead others effectively, one must also be able to lead themselves. "The instrument of leadership is the self, and the master of the art of leadership comes from the master of the self," Charles Manz wrote in his book Mastering Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence.
3. Personal development builds self-confidence and increases interpersonal efficacy. Personal development can improve important leadership skills. In a study published in the Journal of Leadership Education in 2012, 52 percent of students who completed a personal growth project in a leadership collegiate course described an increase in confidence upon completion. This boost in self-confidence instilled a desire to continue learning and a greater willingness to move out of their comfort zones. Many students said they would seek leadership roles and be more vocal in their organizational meetings.
4. Growth is influenced by setbacks. It is easy to act when everything goes to plan, but true personal growth comes from periods of adversity. Denying problems doesn't solve them or help you grow, and neither does acting out against others or yourself. Leaders especially must refine their ability to acknowledge and understand the emotions they feel during a problem or crisis, and be aware of how emotions influence their actions. While it is important not to suppress emotions, learning to evaluate and manage them is essential to handling difficult situations effectively. Every challenging experience is a learning tool.
5. Fear is a projection, not a reality. With all change comes risk, and with all risk comes the chance of failure. However, those who allow failure to constrain them will never give themselves the chance to grow. Today's leaders are tasked with shepherding their organizations through change in what Liz Wiseman, president of Wiseman Group, calls a VUCA — a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world where they not only confront periods of uncertainty, but are constantly immersed in it.
Although it is human nature to approach uncertainty with caution and reservation, leaders can grow more by approaching such times with confidence. There is no limit to personal development — people can continue to learn and grow their whole lives as long as they don't let fear inhibit them.
First steps to personal development
1. Create a personal missions statement. In business, planning goals, setting a strategy and investing time and resources to achieve them is standard practice. However, when considering your personal goals, achieving them may seem a lot more challenging. Although it may be tempting to just go with the flow instead of planning a tactical approach — especially when emotions are involved — devising a personal growth plan can be just as effective as creating a business plan.
The first step to doing this is to create a personal mission statement, according to Inc. magazine. Like a professional mission statement, your personal mission statement should be clear, concise and leave no room for misinterpretation. It should clearly answer the questions, "What do you aim to achieve? What are committed to doing and being to enable yourself to get there?"
2. Make a personal strategic plan. When creating a strategic plan for personal development, one must first identify any potential obstacles and ways to overcome them. A strategic plan for personal development should provide a clear path and timeline for achieving sub-goals. It should include opportunities to capitalize on, relationships to leverage and resources you may need, according to Inc. magazine.
3. Seek guidance from mentors. Even if the path to achieve personal goals seems clear, one can always benefit from guidance of mentors, advisors and other influencers, according to Inc. The best mentors are those with relevant experience who will listen to your ideas, offer feedback and introduce you to established networks. Other resources, such as TED Talks, blogs, books by authors you admire and trusted friends and colleagues, can also be valuable.