In my Coaching practice, I have come to appreciate that between every person and their purpose and dream is a gap. CEO of the Mission Exchange, Steve Moore, calls that gap “the capacity challenge.” It’s the space between who you are today and who you need to become in order to lay hold of your purpose and dream. In other words, you must grow your capacity in such a way that your purpose and dream become achievable.
Without personal growth, the gap will never be closed and your purpose and dream will be exiled to the wasteland of unfulfilled potential. So how do you grow to your full potential? What does it take to close the gap? While the approaches to personal growth are almost endless, here are several ideas that can make a measurable difference – as evidenced by my coaching clients.
Perform A Growth Assessment
Growth can take place spiritually, mentally, relationally, or physically. By reviewing and assessing each of these life spheres, you will be able to identify the areas in which you need to develop and grow.
Spiritual growth focuses on character formation, spiritual disciplines, and your relationship with God.
Mental growth is focused on gifts, abilities, skills, passions, life purpose, emotions, and areas of intellectual development.
Relational health is committed to the major relationships in your life such as family, friends, community, and colleagues.
And physical growth focuses on nutrition, exercise, and health issues.
By assessing each area, you will discover potential growth areas.
Clarify Strengths, Weaknesses, And Liabilities To Help You Narrow Your Growth Focus
Meaningful growth requires a meaningful understanding of current reality. While carrying out a growth assessment will help you get started, you will need to narrow your growth focus by clarifying your strengths, weaknesses, and liabilities.
Strengths are the areas in which you have been naturally and innately gifted. These areas include the natural abilities through which you will make your greatest contribution.
Weaknesses are areas where you do not carry any natural gifting. For me it is things like sports, chess, and music – just to name a few. However, because these areas are not essential to the fulfilment of my life purpose and dream, I can basically ignore them. Other weaknesses cannot be ignored but simply need to be managed to ensure they do not turn into a liability.
Liabilities are anything that can sabotage your character, harm your relationships, or prevent you from fulfilling your life purpose and dream.
By growing your strengths, managing your weaknesses, and addressing your liabilities, you will be able to narrow your growth focus.
Create A Personal Growth Plan
After assessing and refining your growth focus, you will be ready to create a growth plan. Your plan should be specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and time-bound (SMART). It should include clear and practical steps that will generate meaningful growth toward your growth objectives.
Training, resources, coaching, and experiences can be powerful action items in your growth plan.
If you or your team need help developing a personal growth plan (what I call Growth FLOE), please contact me for a free Life or Team Coaching session at www.quintuswealth.co.za
Pursue Accountability
None of us have everything we need to grow to our full potential. While we have great intrinsic motivation to grow in some areas of life, others need external accountability to keep us on track. By engaging accountability partners, you will be much more successful in growing toward your purpose and dreams.
These steps can help you intentionally close your growth gaps. Which steps do you need to take today?
If you need an accountability partner – in the form of a Coach – please feel free to book a free session with me at www.quintuswealth.co.za