In my experience, it’s easier to hide bad leadership when an organization isn’t growing. However, the more growth that occurs the more bad leadership becomes apparent. Therefore, leaders must grow as the organization grows.
As a leader for the last several decades, I’ve learned my leadership is stretched most when we are growing the fastest. In those seasons, I am personally challenged as much as the organization. My ability to continue to lead well is called into question.
As an organization grows:
- People ask harder questions.
- More decisions have to be made quickly.
- Time is stretched and it is harder to find healthy rhythms.
- Current systems need improving.
- More people are needed to do the work – and are often hard to find.
- Leadership development becomes more important.
- Effective delegation and management is necessary.
- Resources are stretched.
- Communication can be messy.
- Tensions are higher.
Here’s the bottom line.
As an organization grows leaders must equally grow.
This can be a sobering word for leaders. But leadership is a sobering reality. Leaders must understand that continuing to grow an organization always requires a leader to continually grow.
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