In the world of leadership, we often make assumptions about what it takes to be great. However, Craig Groeschel, renowned leadership expert and founder of Life Church, challenges these conventional beliefs in his thought-provoking podcast episode, “3 Unexpected Mindsets for Growth.” Groeschel introduces three counterintuitive mindsets that can empower leaders to do more, grow faster, and change more lives.
To Go Up, You Must Let Go
The first mindset Groeschel presents is the idea that to grow bigger, you actually need to do less. This concept is counterintuitive to many leaders who believe that growth requires doing more. Groeschel uses the analogy of climbing a rope: to reach higher, you must let go with one hand to grab the rope above you.
In leadership, this translates to empowering others and delegating responsibilities. Groeschel encourages leaders to ask themselves, “What can only I do?” By identifying tasks that only they can perform, leaders can determine what to let go of and delegate to others.
Groeschel shares his personal experience at Life Church, where he initially believed he was the only one who could handle various responsibilities. Over time, he discovered that others could not only manage these tasks but often excel at them. This realization allowed him to focus on his core responsibilities: setting the tone, direction, and vision for the church.
To apply this mindset, Groeschel suggests conducting regular audits of your responsibilities and identifying what you can delegate. This process may be challenging and even scary, but it’s essential for growth and empowering others.
To Lead Broader, You Need to Think Higher
The second mindset focuses on the importance of creating distance from problems to solve them effectively. Groeschel emphasizes that leaders often struggle with being too emotionally close to situations, which can cloud their judgment and decision-making abilities.
To overcome this, Groeschel recommends “thinking higher” by asking questions that increase your emotional altitude. He offers three powerful questions to create emotional distance:
- “If a great leader replaced me, what would my successor do?”
- “If no one’s feelings got hurt, what would I do?”
- “If I were advising someone else in the same situation, what would I tell them to do?”
These questions help leaders gain objectivity and make better decisions. Groeschel shares a personal example of how this mindset helped him make the difficult decision to close two struggling church locations in Phoenix, despite the emotional attachment to the project.
To Reach More, You’ll Need to Know Less and Empower More
The final mindset challenges the notion that leaders need to know everything as their organization grows. Instead, Groeschel argues that to reach more, leaders need to know less and empower others more.
This mindset shift is about recognizing that a leader’s importance isn’t determined by what they know, but by who they empower. Groeschel illustrates this point with an anecdote about a respected leader who consistently deferred questions to his team members, demonstrating the power of empowerment and trust in leadership.
Groeschel also introduces the concept of being “strategically absent.” He explains that a leader’s impact isn’t reflected in what happens in their presence, but in what occurs in their absence. By empowering others and allowing them to lead, a leader can expand their impact beyond their physical presence.
Embracing this mindset requires tolerating approaches that may differ from your preferences. Groeschel emphasizes the importance of flexibility and recognizing that your way isn’t always the best or only way to do things.
The Power of Continuous Growth
Throughout the episode, Groeschel emphasizes the importance of continuous growth and development as a leader. He encourages listeners to believe in their untapped potential and the potential of those around them. By adopting these counterintuitive mindsets, leaders can unlock new levels of effectiveness and impact.
Groeschel shares a powerful piece of advice from his mentor: “You’ll likely be very disappointed at what you can produce in the short run, but you will vastly underestimate what God can do through a lifetime of faithfulness.” This perspective highlights the importance of perseverance and consistent growth in leadership.
In conclusion, these three unexpected mindsets for growth – letting go to go up, thinking higher to lead broader, and knowing less to reach more – offer a fresh perspective on leadership. By challenging conventional wisdom and embracing these counterintuitive approaches, leaders can unlock their potential, empower their teams, and achieve greater impact in their organizations and communities.
Call to Action: Ready to dive deeper into these transformative leadership mindsets? Don’t miss out on the full episode of Craig Groeschel’s podcast, “3 Unexpected Mindsets for Growth.” Listen now to gain more insights, practical examples, and actionable strategies to elevate your leadership game. Visit Craig Groeschel’s website or your favorite podcast platform to access this eye-opening episode and start your journey towards unprecedented growth and impact today!