How to Unlearn Old Habits for Startup Growth

For startup CEOs, it’s not only about what they need to learn on the job. A lot of it is actually about what they need to UNLEARN as they grow. Working with founders that are scaling and becoming medium-sized companies, I’ve seen that the hardest part is understanding the need to stop many of the behaviors that allowed them to succeed up until that point and then relearning a new set of skills required for the new stage, not only about their role but also on how they see themselves adding value. One example is having to unlearn the heroic do-it-yourself behavior of the early days and instead learn how to delegate, relinquish control, and let go. To be able to do this, ADAPTABILITY is key. #McKinsey recently shared a framework to develop adaptability that I think is worth a read. It shows a 5 step process to develop the courage to embrace change and learn and unlearn as needed. Here is the link to the full article: https://lnkd.in/g6vPnEKJ __ #AdaptabilityMatters #ChangeNavigators #LeadershipJourney #ThrivingThroughChange #WellbeingFoundation #PurposefulDecisions

There comes a point in growing and scaling that you realize how you used to run your business is no longer working. You’re working long days — often 6 or 7 days a week — and you still can’t keep up. Your team runs everything by you. You find yourself “in the weeds” working on small, mundane details. You know that’s not where your time is best spent. And frankly, it aggravates you how much time is spent here. You may contemplate selling the business just to escape the grind. But you’re not ready to let go of it yet. This is a critical point in your business and in your leadership. So what do you do? As the leader, it starts with you. When I work with my private clients, I walk them through an evaluation to identify specific areas of opportunity. And we get to start making some incremental and some big shifts. You get to start letting go of the things you’ve held onto that your team should be handling for you. We take a deeper look at any internal beliefs that are keeping you from letting go, from trusting others, and embracing this opportunity to grow as a leader. This is where The Great UndoingTM comes into play as you unlearn old ways of thinking, being, and doing and develop your own unique approach as a next level leader. I also bring in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) — which I touched on last week — to accelerate this process. And I help my clients communicate with their team in such a way that all team members are brought along this growth journey. As a result, they feel trusted, empowered, and they begin to fully own their areas of responsibility — rather than running everything past you for input and approval. My clients have found this to be a very freeing process and they start to see that the business can in fact run itself when 1) you have the right people in place and 2) you’re being the next level leader that your business needs you to be in order to continue to grow. It’s important to remember this is a process. You will hit points when you don’t know what to do or how to handle new situations. This is why it’s important to have mentors, coaches, and consultants such as myself to help guide you through this process.

Leadership Insights: Learning to Stop for Growth Just getting into my new read of the year, "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" by Marshall Goldsmith. I was quickly inspired by Peter Drucker's wisdom, "We spend a lot of time teaching leaders what to do. We don't spend enough time teaching leaders what to stop. Half the leaders I have met don't need to learn what to do. They need to learn what to stop." This resonates deeply with the essence of leadership evolution; my evolution. Growth isn't just about acquiring new skills; it's equally about shedding old habits. Goldsmith brilliantly highlights the importance of self-awareness and the courage to identify behaviors that might hinder our journey to becoming better leaders and people. Habits Leaders Need to Stop (A few favorites): 1. Not Taking Time to Reflect: Regular self-reflection is essential for leadership growth. 2. Ignoring Personal Well-being: Prioritize self-care; a healthy leader is a resilient leader. 3. Not Listening: Actively listen without interruptions; understanding precedes effective leadership. 4. Being Defensive: Accept feedback gracefully; defensiveness inhibits personal growth. 5. Failing to Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge achievements; celebrate successes with the team. 6. Clinging to the Past: Embrace change; don't let past successes limit future opportunities. 7. Not Having a Clear Vision: Define a clear vision for yourself and your team; clarity inspires. 8. Avoiding Difficult Conversations: Tackle challenges head-on; constructive conversations are catalysts for improvement. 9. Neglecting Professional Development: Stay curious; continuously invest in your leadership skills. 10. Lacking Gratitude: Express gratitude; appreciation fuels motivation and commitment. Leadership Growth Tips: • Self-Reflection: Regularly assess your leadership style and its impact. • Seek Feedback: Actively solicit input from peers, subordinates, and mentors. • Continuous Learning: Stay curious; invest time in expanding your leadership toolkit. • Actionable Goals: Develop a plan to replace old habits with positive ones. Remember, leadership is a journey, not a destination. Let's commit to not only learning new skills but also unlearning habits that might be holding us back. What behaviors do you believe leaders, or you for that matter, should "stop" for continuous growth? Share your thoughts! #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipInsights #BookRecommendation