5 Pitfalls To Growth, And What To Do About Them

Without growth, companies, teams, leaders, and careers stagnate.
Stagnation leads to hording, silos, distrust, conflict, and
tension. Without a growth-provoking intervention, such stagnation
quickly causes complacency, hording of resources, turnover, or
worse yet, disengagement.


Disengaged employees not only fail to do their best work, but
they actively share their negativity with colleagues and
customers alike, sabotaging your reputation and halting growth.


To avoid the stench of stagnation, consider stepping up to the
challenges associated with each the following 5 pitfalls to
growth:


Failure to continue learning


“I don’t have time to read, listen, watch… to master a new skill,
to learn about a new industry, or focus on building new
relationships… I am busy!” In fairness, I get it—you are busy.
And, considering your commitment to growth, here are a few
questions to provoke clarity of direction. 


Challenge: Ask yourself, “What am I (or my team)
so busy striving to achieve, specifically? And, why does success
matter to me?” Be honest with yourself before you move to the
next question—“If I had extra time and plenty of resources, what
would I want to learn about, who would I want to meet, and what
event would I attend?”


Exposing yourself to new industries, topics, sports, and
conferences leads to innovation, ideas, and interests that fuel
passion, enthusiasm, and growth.


Refuse to share


The prevailing thought is—if I share what I know, I’ll be
replaced by younger and cheaper labor. In truth, the more you
share, the more trusted and respected you become. The more you
share what you know, the more time you’ll have to keep advancing,
making you even more valuable. 


Challenge: Ask yourself, “What project could I
bring others into right now, or in the next three months? Who
needs to be introduced to whom? Who might be interested in
learning and contributing to this project, or attending important
meetings with me? What skills/experiences would I like to gain in
the next six months, and how can I begin sharing what I know so
that I have the time and energy for growth?


Failure to continuously communicate


“I told them the goal… why do they need constant reminders? I
hired them to get the job done… they should focus on doing their
job.” They should is a trap that kills enthusiasm and growth
faster than any economic downturn ever could.


Challenge: Ask yourself, “Do I know my specific
goal and why it matters to me? Do I authentically care about the
goal? When was the last time I shared my passion, our progress
and encouraged others to do the same? How do I keep my vision,
enthusiasm, passion, direction, and progress out in the open
consistently?”


Avoid difficult conversations


“I would rather get a root canal than have that conversation,” a
senior executive at a Fortune 500 company said after I encouraged
him to address a vastly underperforming senior leader with truth
and accountability.


Joel Salatin of PolyFace Farms said, “Disruption is critical to
growth.” This is true whether we’re talking about growing grass,
livestock, relationships, or the bottom line.


Challenge: Ask yourself, “What conversation am I
avoiding, and what are the costs associated? What are the
positive (and negative) outcomes associated with having an open
and honest conversation?”


Failure to pause/reflect


We don’t bat an eye at spending countless hours researching and
figuring out how to use our new cell phone and all the awesome
applications. We invest our time, money, and resources in getting
the best gadgets on the planet, forgetting that we are our most
valuable resource.


Imagine the difference you could make for yourself if you stopped
to notice the moments you feel joyful or irritable. Such
information could greatly aid your overall energy, enthusiasm and
excitement for your work, your team, and your life. 


Challenge: Open your calendar and ask yourself,
“Where can I block off 20 minutes each day for
silence/reflection?” No distractions. Be with yourself, journal
about your thoughts, notice and watch as your life transforms in
the coming weeks. Your 20-minute time block might shift from one
day to the next, but the key is to do it every day. 


When you intentionally put your focus on growth, challenging
yourself to communicate, share and reflect, opportunities will
continually present themselves, allowing not only for your
growth, but for everyone around you, and your bottom line.


Here’s to your greatness,


Misti Burmeister


NEW! Gain clarity on what’s preventing your growth, along with
what will inspire it – get your Gearing for Greatness session
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