This past week, I took part in several conversations with leaders across multiple organizations that were struggling. Whether the conversations were with church leaders, business leaders, or entrepreneurs, the conversations followed a similar trend. Faced with favorable circumstances, these leaders made the determination to push forward with a growth strategy that fell apart in short order.
These leaders fell victim to the myth of continuous growth.
Continuous growth is the idea that an organization can continue to grow throughout its lifecycle with no periods of stabilization. This myth often leads decision-makers to embrace the idea that because we are growing, we can keep growing. As a result, decision making becomes a rapid expression of ideas that push organizations past a healthy capacity level.
I have been the victim of my success, and if I am being honest, my pride in seasons of growth as well. The idea that because what we have done in the past has led to growth creates a mentality that to continue expansion is healthy and necessary. This has led me to drive activity to keep growing, bringing negative consequences rapidly.
Rather than the idea of continuous growth, I needed to turn our focus away from continuous growth to continual growth.
In continual growth, times of stabilization, reflection, analysis, and improvement balance periods of growth. Resisting the urge to force the next great idea through decision-making channels and taking time to evaluate and improve offers the opportunity to optimize workflow proficiency and efficiency.
Many times, we know areas stressed by the last growth cycle need our attention, but the opportunity to keep pressing forward captures our imagination. Then, like a car stressed by neglected maintenance, these areas break under the strain of growth. The result can be devastating.
Healthy growth coupled with stabilizing times of improvement and evaluation are the field for lasting growth. Don't wait until the engine explodes to discover the benefit of continual growth.
