How to Know If You’re Still Growing as a Leader
By Karl Pister, PCC
Leadership growth isn’t automatic. Just because you’ve stepped into a leadership role doesn’t mean the stretching stops. A title isn’t the endgame, it’s the starting line for a different kind of growth. If you stop learning, you’ll stall without even realizing it.
Over the years, I’ve coached executives, physicians, and C-suite leaders who felt stuck despite being busy and productive. On paper, they were performing. But inside, they knew something was missing.
That’s the danger in leadership: mistaking motion and busyness for real growth.
Running an agenda does not mean leadership. The idea of being a “doer”, which has brought you recognition no longer is what you need to be doing. Managers do tasks. Leaders work with people.
The question now is: How do you know if you’re still growing as a leader? And if you’re not, how do you get back on the learning track?
Signs You’ve Stopped Growing
You avoid uncomfortable situations and conversations. Growth comes from moments that require you to stretch. If you’re avoiding difficult conversations, you’re also avoiding opportunities to learn and grow.
You solve the same problems the same way. Your strategy is predictable. You resist trying new approaches that could be more effective and sustainable.
You’re not asking for feedback. Feedback fuels growth. Without it, blind spots remain.
You’re managing instead of leading. The mindset and skills that got you here may not be the same ones you need to lead at your current level.
Why You’re Stuck
You became a leader because you achieved results and earned people’s trust. But success can make you comfortable.
You’re putting out fires day after day, and reflection rarely makes it onto the calendar. The pace is relentless, and self-evaluation takes a back seat.
You’ve built your identity as a leader, and that comfort can quietly stall your growth. Without intentional introspection, the habits that once propelled you forward can become the very ones that hold you back.
Questions To Ask Yourself
One key to knowing if you are still growing is to ask yourself better questions. Here are a few I give my clients:
What am I doing differently than I was before? Marshall Goldsmith wrote a wonderful book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. It is a must read for this question.
How am I doing leading people?
Where am I most uncomfortable and how am I confronting that discomfort?
Who do I have in my inner circle that can provide me feedback in crucial, discomfort areas?
I hope that you are able to evaluate where you stand.
How to Restart Your Growth Path
If your answers above feel thin, you may be due for a reset. Here’s how you can restart your path to growth.
Make a plan and stick to it. Which areas of your leadership need the most growth? Envision yourself improving and create a plan to get there.
Invest consistent time. Decide how much time you’re willing to spend on growth each day and protect it. Even 15 minutes a day adds up to over 90 hours a year. Small, consistent effort compounds.
Seek discomfort on purpose. That conversation you dread? Start it. That team member you have been avoiding for months? Invite them for a one-on-one. Growth starts where comfort ends.
Find a mentor or an accountability partner. Share your goals and plans with someone you trust. Invite them to hold you accountable.
Teach what you are learning. The best way to retain knowledge is to teach it. Look for opportunities to share your learning. Be genuine, welcome questions, and embrace discussion.
A Final Word
The greatest leaders I’ve known never stop growing. Through intentional effort, they stay aware of where they are on the growth curve. They seek feedback. They remain curious. They keep stretching.
So, ask yourself today:
Am I still stretching? Am I still curious? Am I still learning?
If the answer is yes, keep going.
If the answer is no, start now. Because in leadership, the moment you stop growing is the moment you start losing influence.
