SMARTLEADERS ON PERSONAL GROWTH Nelson Searcy

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: We asked SmartLeaders around the world to describe how they grow as a leader. The top three responses were: mentoring, peer interaction and continuous learning. Growth requires input from others, insight into yourself and intellectual pursuits.

Here are the top responses:

Reading...the more I can learn the more I will be able to understand leadership better. -- Lance Ekum, Sentry Equipment Corp, Oconomowoc, WI (USA)

1) An attitude to learn new things 2) An open mind. 3) Deal with objectively 4) Patience in teaching people 'How to fish' rather than 'Give them fish'. -- Jayakar Rangarajan, SYNTEL INDIA, Chennai, Tamilnadu (INDIA)

My mentor. When I feel mentally "stifled," I call Bill and ask, "What have you been reading lately?" This question usually yields three or four new titles that stretch my thinking in new directions. -- Rob Edwards, Ocean View Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA (USA)

Leadership is an art that is perfected through practice. It can constantly be enrich and improve if one has an open mind with a genuine commitment to people.-- Frank Anthony, Progressive Youth Organisation, Lacytown, Georgetown (Guyana)

Continuous knowledge seeking. -- Richard Gilmore, Maryland State Highway Administration, Hanover, MD (USA)

I think that a deliberate effort to broaden my experiences has been the single most helpful effort. By exposing myself to a variety of different experiences, it causes me to look at things from different perspectives. Later, I can take current problems or issues and compare them to apparently unrelated situations and see new opportunities. -- Ed Shriver, JSA (USA)

Interacting with others that can look to the future and are not afraid to "push the envelope".-- Paige Dolson, Genetics Institute, Andover, MA (USA)

I look at what other leaders are doing outside my organization and outside my business. Examining their successes and failures helps me to plot my course for the future -- Paul D. Christiano, DuPont, Richmond, VA (USA)

1. A mentor. 2. Tools (book, seminars, experiences) that teach and promote personal awareness--the more I come to understand who I am (needs, motivations, frustrations, etc.), the better I am able to appreciate and understand the diverse needs of others. Personal awareness provides a strong "center" for me to communicate with others. 3. Continuing education. 4. Experience. -- Wendy T. Laxton, Tyler II Construction, Inc., Charlotte, NC (USA)

Experience and mentorship. Having been in an upper management (leadership)

position for a short two months, experience and leaning on those around me (collective wisdom) have been most valuable. -- Paul Steger, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN (USA)

Taking advantage of the wealth of information available today in the form of books, magazines, video and audiotapes, etc. -- Barry Fielder, Pharmacy Associates, Inc., Little Rock, AR (USA)

By far - support from a mentor. Also one who allows a great deal of freedom to explore opportunities that are not associated with the daily or monthly routine.-- Art Garfield (USA)

Surrounding myself with people who believe in me, who are interested in seeing me continue to develop as a leader and who are effective leaders themselves.-- Ragan Morrow, NCCPA, Norcross, GA (USA)

Two things: literature that describes the philosophy of a visionary leader, and a mentor who is able to provide a role model for implementing such ideas-- Chris Pletcher, The Sear-Brown Group, Fort Collins, CO (USA)

A peer network, like Young Entrepreneur's Organization, to share ideas and thoughts.-- Rob Bowman (USA)

(1) Reading (magazines, books, web sites)

(2) Understanding and applying personality theory (3) Discovering my purpose and pursuing it -- Tony Gibbs (USA)

Without a question - associates who are living, breathing models of great leaders. The impact that these individuals can have is remarkable - "shadow of the leader" can be a strong influence we should keep in mind at all times. I constantly ask myself "what kind of shadow am I casting??" -- Thomas R. Pezzi, Wisconsin Electric, Milwaukee, WI (USA)

I have found that constant prayerful honest evaluation of myself, my staff, and my goals determine the strategy that I will use. I wait and wait to see what God is doing behind the scenes. The longer that I work for Him the more that I learn about Him. I continually search and read resources like the ones that you offer, and that brings confirmation or new insights. -- Glen H. Moore, Torrance New Life Church, Torrance, CA (USA)

Networking with others.-- Steven Boles, USCG (USA)

My most effective tool is to write out what I plan to do (or some event that has happened to me in a "just the facts" Joe Friday manner), how I think it will be seen by others, how that action will make me feel, and then go and do it.-- Michael Card, Organizational Resources Group (USA)

To have a mentor. -- Allisa Arnold, International School of Brussels, Calgary, Alberta (Canada)

I grow as a leader by continuously pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I face adversity head on, I am open to new ideas and I allow others to share in success. I continually evaluate and change my leadership techniques and always help others to reach their leadership goals. -- Chad Betz (USA)

Talking with other leaders and watching them in action. -- Roger Ferguson, First Baptist Church, Owasso, OK (USA)

The things that I have found to be the most helpful to assist in my growth as a leader are the materials I have read through SmartLeadership.com. I am also reading books by Stephen Covey. -- Debra Crenshaw, Three Sisters, Greensboro, NC (USA)

Successful leaders who have been willing to participate in aggressive, mentoring. Leadership can be in books and classes, but is learned in the crucible of business. I have pursued leaders with qualities I desired in myself, and secured commitments from them to teach me, prod me, and work through the paradigm shifts necessary to be successful in leadership. -- Dennis Mixer, Poimen Consulting, Cincinnati, OH (USA)

Mentoring, both received and given, contribute to any leader's effectiveness. Too, the development of the ability to step back from the content of a situation to become a more contextual thinker, assists growth and nurtures wise decision making.-- Jane Moore (USA)

First, experience. Second, reading articles and books, scriptures. Third, watching other leaders that I look up to. -- Roger Turner, Declo Elementary School, Declo, ID (USA)

Constant education -- Drew Wohlford, One Source Micro Products, South Bend, IN (USA)

I have found that your site and other good sites on the internet have contributed greatly to my leadership development and growth. For instance, I have certain inclinations about how leaders should respond in a particular situation and have no way of verifying if my feelings (instinct)

is valid and objective. Your articles have articulated in clarity and precision the very thing that I have been feeling. Therefore, your website/SmartLeadership monthly articles have been a confirming voice for me. -- Cy Reyes, LPWC, Honolulu, HI (USA)

Meditating on verses from the Bible has been life changing and life-directing for me. -- Tom Swift, Perimed Compliance Corporation, Glen Allen, VA (USA)

The most helpful assistance to my growth as a leader has been continuing education and training to enhance and improve my skills and abilities. -- Erin Bailey, Jostens, Princeton, IL (USA)

I never stop learning. This is accomplished mostly through reading cutting edge material as well as maintaining a mentoring relationship with a number of people. -- Jeff Sarine, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA (USA)

1. Personal Experience. 2. Mentors: to get the most out of my personal experiences in terms of guidance. 3. Professional Development seminars/courses: for knowledge & networking; great value in sharing and learning from each others experiences. 4. Publications (email, magazines, articles, books, etc.). -- Tamara McDowell, Charles Schwab Canada, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

The ability to have frank conversations with other leaders about my opportunities for growth. To be unafraid in sharing and allow myself to be vulnerable. -- Alison Brown, Spectrum Health EAS, Grand Rapids, MI (USA)

Utilizing mentors-- Justine Wilson, NC State, Raleigh, NC (USA)

Mentors have been the most helpful. Asking them questions, watching them, and reading the resources they suggest. -- David Roderick, First Baptist Church, Maryville, IL (USA)

Reading books, listening to tapes, studying the leadership of historical characters, especially biblical characters. -- Mark Farnham, Wisdom Management Systems, New London, CT (USA)

When people are willing to give direct, honest feedback. -- Jana Horner, Cooperative Edge, Englewood, CO (USA)

Finding publications and websites that look at how 20-somethings 'do' leadership. Sites like SmartLeadership.com, Fast Company, etc. -- Stephanie Gurnsey Higgins (USA)

To be willing to truthfully evaluate my every philosophy of leadership and make appropriate changes through study and accountability. -- Harry Hegwood, Cornerstone Family Church, Garland, TX (USA)

FINAL THOUGHT:

With the assistance of SmartLeadership, I have successfully completed a 2 year tour as commanding Officer of a U.S. Reserve unit. I guess I did a good job - they gave me a memento with the following inscription: "A True Leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. In the end, leaders are like eagles ... they don't flock, you find them one at a time." -- CAPT Thomas Vaughn, U.S. Naval Reserve, Merrick, NY (USA)