5 Areas of Personal Growth That Lead to a Life of Significance

When we think about success and what it takes to grow past success and experience significance, it all goes back to one element: personal growth. We can’t lead a life of significance if we aren’t focused on our personal growth as individuals, as leaders, and as fellow human beings who want to influence powerful, positive change in the world.

Everywhere John Maxwell goes he is asked this question: “What is the difference between people who succeed and people who don’t?” His answer is personal growth. Successful people have an intentional plan for growth. That is the great separator. And the people who are most successful not only have a plan, but they also have a guide to mentor, motivate, and walk alongside them.

We just wrapped up our first-ever Personal Growth Day at our International Maxwell Conference, so we’re highlighting some of the speakers and topics that we covered, including a focus on our Maxwell Leadership Growth Plan—our digital learning environment to give you the plan, the guides, and the community to help you become the person you were born to be.

Do you have a clear plan for your personal growth?

Nearly 50 years ago, John Maxwell made a decision to invest in his personal growth to create and lead a life of significance. He came up with a plan, sought out mentors to guide his path forward, and has been developing and equipping others through a life-long pursuit of personal growth. Today, we have the culmination of the wisdom he’s gained and the resources he’s created through our Maxwell Leadership Growth Plan. This plan explores five areas or lanes of growth Maxwell believes every leader needs to master—Communication, Leadership, Equipping, Attitude, and Relationships (C.L.E.A.R.)—as well as provides five hand-picked mentors to guide you each step of the way.

Below, we discuss each of these areas and provide additional resources to help you improve your leadership development skills and pursue your personal growth goals—no matter who you are and where you are in your journey toward a life of significance.

COMMUNICATION WITH RODDY GALBRAITH

The first lane—communication—is all about learning to communicate in a positive and effective way not only with others, but also yourself. If you can improve the way you communicate, you will see more success in your life, from your personal relationships and the way you lead others to the way you approach your vision for your life. The power of effective communication in everyday, ordinary lives can make an extraordinary difference.

Effective communication is all about serving your audience through values-based influence, and here are three tips from communication coach Roddy Galbraith for developing communication skills that influence and inspire the people you want to reach.

LEADERSHIP WITH MARK COLE

 When we think about leadership, we often think of leading others. But before we can lead others, we have to know how to lead ourselves. Maxwell Leadership CEO Mark Cole has this to say about leadership: “Leadership is about bringing out the best in others and making them a champion. But to do that you have to bring out the best in yourself so you can become a catalyst in bringing out the best in others.”

 Explore three leadership development lessons that have stood the test of time as you seek to become the leader others want to follow.

EQUIPPING WITH CHRIS HODGES

The highest calling of leadership isn’t becoming the best leader you can be. Rather, it’s achieving significance by helping others grow their own leadership potential. In the area of Equipping, leadership expert Chris Hodges discusses how leaders multiply their influence by equipping themselves and others with the right tools and the right people.

Dive more into this topic by learning three of the qualities leaders need to have to grow more leaders, not followers.

ATTITUDE WITH CHRIS ROBINSON

The world’s greatest achievements have been made by people who were only just a bit better than their peers—and often that difference was their attitude. Your attitude is a defining factor in whether you succeed or fail, and it always determines your ability to influence others.

Maxwell Leadership executive and coach Chris Robinson delves into the attitude factor of personal growth and its impact on your success as he discusses how to improve your outlook on life and cultivate a contagious attitude that leads to growth.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRACI MORROW

The fifth and final lane of the Maxwell Leadership Growth Plan takes a deep dive into the realm of relationships and the power our relationships have to influence our personal growth and development. Life coach and relationship expert Traci Morrow helps us reflect on the relationships in our lives and how they define our ability to become the greatest versions of ourselves.

To get a taste of what this area addresses, explore four ways our relationships affect our personal growth. For if we want to leave a legacy of powerful, positive change in this world, we have to cultivate the interactions that lead to growth and leave people feeling honored, loved, and valued. 

Is there a specific area of your life you want to improve as part of your personal growth goals?

We have you covered. With the Maxwell Leadership Growth Plan, you can join a community of people just like you who are focused on their personal growth and learn from the best as you’re mentored by our leadership experts in each of the C.L.E.A.R. lanes of growth: Communication, Leadership, Equipping, Attitude, and Relationships. Download our app today to take the next step in your intentional journey of personal growth and becoming the person and leader you were born to be.