Our lives are like a stream of water. Some streams are large and capable to carrying more water while some are smaller and quieter. Both are useful and serve a purpose. When water is moving, there is life, freshness and potential.
When water stops moving it becomes stagnant. Stagnant water becomes dirty and starts to stink. It becomes adverse to growth and life. Stagnant water turns into a swamp and is rendered useless with no practical purpose.
Your life is like one of these bodies of water. Are you fresh like a moving river or stinking because of lack of movement?
Leaders are learners. If you want to increase your influence, learn. If you want to lead someday, learn.
Here are 4 ways you can start growing your leadership today:
1. Read Books
There so many books available to you today. Many of the mentors that I have are through books. Books are a condensed way to learn in just a few hours or days what took that author several years to learn.
When I set my yearly goals I always specify what category of books I am going to read. That way I am growing in the areas I desire to see growth.
2. Attend Conferences
Conferences are fantastic growth opportunities because they condense so much content into a small window of time. This pressure alone facilitates growth.
You don’t have to have lots of money to attend conferences. There might be one in your area that you can commute to. There are also lots on online conferences as well.
Many conferences (like Catalyst) also offer many of their key note speakers on DVD after the event.
When possible, save and go. Physically going gives you the added benefit of networking with other like-minded people.
3. Cultivate Relationships
There are people around you with a wealth of knowledge and experience that you could benefit from in a major way. But you won’t receive that benefit unless you engage with them.
Whose name just popped in your head? Take that person for a coffee and prepare 3 questions for them.
4. Be Open
Each day you experience learning opportunities. You just need to be open to seeing them. Maybe it’s a conversation, or an interaction with someone. Maybe it’s simply observing other people interacting with each other.
In any case, be open to see the learning opportunities around you every day.
The point of all of this is to be intentional about your growth! Grow on purpose.
When you grow on purpose, you accelerate your growth and head towards your potential of purpose.
