Planning for Personal Growth

Personal Growth Initiative

No matter your profession or your role as a leader, it is well known that personal growth and professional growth are linked. Yet, what is not as well understood is the significance of the lag in your personal growth on the outcomes you deliver as a professional. 

Just as balance is needed in your technical skills, called hard skills, and your people skills, called soft skills, so is balance needed in personal and professional growth.

Researcher Chris Robitschek and her colleagues have validated 4 elements critical to personal growth. Last week we talked about “Readiness for Change”. This week we are going to talk about a second skill validated through research that makes a difference in your personal growth: “Planfulness”.

In his book, How Successful People Think, Leadership expert John Maxwell shares several reasons why strategic thinking will help you to grow. Here are three:

 #1: strategic thinking simplifies the difficult

Consider the exercise: STOP, START, and CONTINUE

#2: strategic thinking prompts you to ask the right questions

Consider the exercise: Clarify, Reflect, Confirm  

#3: strategic thinking prepares you today for an uncertain tomorrow

Consider your core values

Some examples of core values:

• Faith
• Integrity
• Community
• Appreciation
• Creativity
• Knowledge
• Balance
• Compassion
• Success
• Competency
• Growth
• Excellence

Let what you value drive your decisions.

You can reach me at https://www.healthyleadership.online/. On this webpage you’ll see a free 15-minute call. Reach out to me and let’s discuss how I can best support your growth and development.

Resources:

Maxwell, J. (2009). How Successful People Think. Center Street: New York.

Robitschek, C., Ashton, M. W., Spering, C. C., Geiger, N., Byers, D., Schotts, G. C., & Thoen, M. A. (2012). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale – II. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59, 274-287. doi: 10.1037/a0027310