The desire to grow is inherently within most of us. Most kids want to grow. Students typically want to grow and learn. Most adults want to learn more and experience more. As we take on various responsibilities in life and career, we learn to set goals and support them with plans. These goals and plans are often aspirational, whether they are formally written and strategically developed or simply held within our mindset. It is highly unlikely that we will ever set goals, make plans, or embrace dreams that are not related to growing. Growth is the most important key performance indicator in business and in our personal lives.
Many workers of all types want to grow in their ability to add value. Executives are usually hired to grow functions, departments, and companies. Most organizations are expected to grow in their ability to influence others. The Church, by its own definition, must grow. If it is to achieve its goals, the school must grow. And businesses, small or large, must grow to reach objectives. When we are growing, we are typically more satisfied and healthier in mental outlook. When a team experiences the satisfaction of knowing they are contributing to growth, its members often experience an exuberance that cascades. Exuberance is contagious; it can spread through the entire culture. When exuberance is missing, teams may pretend to be okay, but most of the time they are not. Growth is also about growing our personal value, being able to think more strategically, and setting goals and achieving them. Clarity, focus, planning, and execution of priorities lead to understanding and knowing what actions to take. We seldom “accidentally” achieve goals that were never set or planned. If we do, most people call it “luck.” Simply hoping that everything will work out is not a strategy. We have yet to find a case study titled “Hope.”
While luck and hope are not strategies, we acknowledge that both have a place in our lives. However, the value we add to our family or business/ enterprise is minimized when we are not growing personally and when our investment of time, knowledge, and skill is not contributing to growth toward objectives to enhance both life and the work we do.
After many years of observation, it has become very clear to us that growth is normally the result of a codependent process and a lot of focused thinking and planning. This is true for business or organization and also for the solopreneur who often works alone or with only a few people. Growth is also the common denominator which must be focused on at all times. When we do not maintain a focus on growth, we may attempt to manage what we have,… a strategy that often leads to a downward trend in both businesses and organizations. The replacement of customers and members is a necessity because turnover is real.
It is also wise to note that lack of growth can fuel a decrease in morale, energy, focus, and clarity, and it can yield losses versus profits, activate excuses, blame, confusion, flawed execution, and unacceptable results. These side effects from lack of growth not only impact the health of businesses and organizations, they can also impact the health of families. Our advice: Keep your focus on growing what you are involved in, mastering simple processes and repeating them often. Growth is the primary key performance indicator.<Main post content>
