5 Signs of Leadership Growth

There’s a famous saying that goes, “People don’t leave companies. They leave managers.” By being accountable for your leadership growth, you can avoid being the reason a team member decides the job isn’t worth dealing with poor management.

You take on an unimaginable amount of responsibility when you step into a leadership position. Not only are you now the driving force behind your department’s success, but you’re also the person your team will look to for empathy, decisiveness, and feedback.

It’s not enough to bring industry expertise and a positive attitude to the table; you have to have a vision, laser focus, and a growth mindset to take your team from ordinary to extraordinary.

So, who do you know that you’re demonstrating those qualities? How can you recognize where you’re succeeding and what needs more development?

Today, we’ll explore five key signs of leadership growth that are true of all successful managers.

You Care About and Value the Team You Work With

A hallmark characteristic of outstanding leadership is understanding the value of the team you’ve built and genuinely caring about each person.

One of the most critical leadership skills you can develop is creating a positive work environment where team members feel respected and valued. Everyone should know they have a work community built on open communication, collaboration, and mutual respect. 

You should also be passionate about recognizing and rewarding their performance by acknowledging their contributions, providing opportunities for growth and development, and celebrating team successes. Don’t claim wins from your team. Be profuse in your recognition that their hard work helped the organization meet its goals.  

Professionally, you should also provide the supports that help the team’s sense of well-being in the work that they do by making training and tools readily available to them.

You Want to Help Others Grow

Great leadership begets other great leaders. That’s why a growing leader recognizes the importance of empowering others by encouraging their team members to take on more responsibility and become leaders themselves.

In an increasingly connected and collaborative world, employees have more opportunities than ever to achieve success outside the status quo. True leaders will facilitate those interests and aspirations by providing feedback, resources, and mentorship that supports their team members’ efforts.

You can empower their team by giving them autonomy and allowing them to make decisions independently to help them build confidence, self-esteem, and trust in their abilities.

It would help if you also were direct about encouraging innovation and creativity. Give your people the freedom to experiment with new ideas and solutions, even if there’s a possibility that it won’t work out. Cultivating this level of accountability and buy-in will do wonders for your team’s engagement.

Your Decision-Making Process is More Deliberate and Collaborative

As you continue your journey to leadership growth, you should notice that you make decisions based on a thoughtful and deliberate process that considers factors others might not think of. 

Additionally, you always have the bigger picture in mind, even when dealing with short-term problems, by anticipating changes and proactively preparing for them. Make it a priority to seek out new information and data to stay ahead of emerging trends.

You should also demonstrate a keenness in letting others responsible for the department’s success speak up about their ideas. It makes your team more confident in their professional life and helps you see new variables you may not have been aware of before. It’s a learning opportunity that all good leaders embrace enthusiastically.

Finally, the best leaders communicate their decisions clearly and effectively to those affected, which includes explaining the rationale behind the decision and outlining the next steps while listening to feedback with an open mind.

You Adapt Well to New Situations

Adaptability is a critical soft skill for leaders because you must be brave enough to embrace innovation that will enhance business performance, increase employee engagement, and pivot when faced with an unexpected situation.

Great leaders have a mindset open to change, viewing it as an opportunity rather than a threat. They are willing to explore new ideas and seek new problem-solving approaches.

As you grow as a leader and face increasingly complex decisions, practice mindfulness by being present in the moment, fully aware of your thoughts and feelings, to help them stay centered, even in the face of change and uncertainty.

Finally, encourage feedback and criticism from team members when a solution doesn’t work out. Be willing to become a good listener, then use that skill to learn from your mistakes.

You Want to Grow Even More

The #1 sign that you’re growing as a leader is that you’re constantly seeking more ways to hone your skills. 

It’s not enough for a leader to be “alright.” They want to be great. 

Catalyst Group ECR can give you the tools to achieve that greatness by facilitating and nurturing your natural leadership growth potential. With decades in the business, we understand what it takes to go above and beyond the call of duty in today’s business world.