Growth Is the Real Goal
Growth Over Goals
Here’s a leadership secret: servant leaders don’t measure success only by the numbers. They measure it by how much their people grow.
Growth isn’t just about skills for the current job—it’s about helping people stretch, discover new strengths, and prepare for the future.
What Growth Looks Like
Growth can take many forms:
Professional development (new skills, leadership training).
Personal growth (confidence, resilience, communication).
Life goals (supporting someone applying to grad school or pursuing a dream).
A servant leader cares about the whole person, not just their productivity.
Why Growth Matters
When people feel supported in their growth, they:
Engage more deeply: They know the leader is invested in their success.
Stay longer: They see a future in the organization.
Perform better: New skills = new contributions.
Even if people eventually move on, they leave with gratitude—and that reputation draws new talent in.
The Long-Term Payoff
Some leaders fear that if they help people grow, they’ll outgrow the team. But here’s the truth: the best leaders are remembered for the lives they shaped, not the titles they held.
Growth has a ripple effect. One person’s development inspires others to pursue their own growth, creating a culture of learning.
How You Can Try It Today
Offer mentorship: Share your knowledge and experience with someone newer.
Encourage training: Suggest (and support) professional courses or workshops.
Ask growth questions: Try, “What skills would you like to build this year?”
Final Thought
Servant leaders play the long game. By investing in people, they create stronger teams, healthier cultures, and lasting legacies.
Takeaway: When people grow, the whole team grows.
👉 Try this: Ask one person on your team what they’d like to learn this year. Then brainstorm one concrete step to help them get started.
