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Leadership is not a destination; it is a journey.

Leaders who think they have “arrived” are totally missing the point.

And that point is that leaders don’t arrive; they strive. They strive for excellence every single day.

This means that leadership growth must be intentional in order to be impactful. Leadership is a habit.

The Leadership Journey

Consider one of the greatest leaders of our time, Dr. John Maxwell. Even he didn’t wake up one day and say, “I have arrived. Today, I am a leader.”

But what he does say is that he practices certain habits every single day that allow him to serve others well. And even though he has been a highly influential leader for decades, he is still striving for excellence. He is still on the journey – listening, learning, reading, speaking, and writing every day – to add value to others.

Twice a year, we have a leadership development event, where leaders from around the world meet for one reason: to learn how they can serve with excellence. While everyone walks away with inspiration, education, and motivation, not everyone will grow from the experience. But those who do are those who take what they have learned and apply it as a daily habit.

If you are a leader, keep this in mind. Attending events with like-minded peers and mentors is like iron sharpening iron. It is essential for you personally to renew your passion for your work and to connect with others.

But give some thought to what will happen after the event.

How can you make leadership a habit?

Reflect on what you have learned and write down one to three actionable takeaways.

For example, you may decide to:

• Make three new connections each day.
• Write 500 words each day.
• Read one book a month or week.
• Attend an in-person meeting each week.
• Walk 15 minutes each day.
• Have dinner with your family daily, with no devices at the table.

It is important that you write down your chosen leadership habit(s) and then track for accountability.

Take action…every day.

It takes time to build relationships, re-establish good health, write a book, and create a profitable business that serves well. But it is worth the investment.

Maybe you live in a neighborhood, and you first noticed a neighbor walking one morning. You noticed because they were walking slowly and laboriously. But they showed up again the next day, and the next, and the next. Then one day, about six months later, you notice someone walking briskly, with a spring in their step. And you realize this is the person you saw just a few months ago, struggling. They look markedly healthier. Here’s the thing: even they may not realize how different they are. All they know is that they get up each day and walk.

Maybe you are investing in your children or grandchildren. You feed them, clothe them, drive them everywhere, help them with homework, answer their endless questions when they are two and endure their silence when they are teens. You won’t see a great deal of difference from one day to the next. In fact, some days, you may think you’re losing ground. But a day will come, if you have made steady deposits into the relationship, that you will stand as a proud parent or grandparent of a successful young adult.

Perhaps you are a business leader, investing in your team members day after day, week after week. You may, at times, feel frustrated and think you have little influence until, at your retirement party, they stand to speak. One after another, they honor you for the impact you have had on their lives. You sit there with tears in your eyes, like Mr. Holland, whose students returned to play his Opus.

You can’t see these things now. All you can see is the next step.

Here’s the key: Take that step!

Attend the event, do the training, then create the habit. Strive for excellence daily!

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!