Growth or Control?

"Leaders, you can have control, or you can have growth, but you can’t have both.”

This statement at the 2021 Global Leadership Summit by Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of Life.Church, was my key takeaway. If you want to be in complete control of everything, then you are limiting the possibilities for growth in your organization and in your life.

Being in control of anything or anyone is really a myth. You guide and discipline your children, but ultimately, they go on to live their lives for themselves. You can employ and coach people in your organization, but you can never motivate or control every action that they take. You can create and launch an organization, but if you attempt to micromanage it, you limit its growth.

Growth comes from creating a healthy environment and then letting its components thrive. Perhaps gardening is the best metaphor to use. You prepare the soil, select and place the plants, water, feed and weed, but your garden has a life of its own. You can destroy it, but you can’t make it grow.

Leaders need to do several things to grow their organizations.

First, have a clear vision and purpose, understanding that the means to achieve the end may change over time.

Second, select gifted individuals who have a passion for the vision.

Third, empower those individuals by giving them responsibility, providing adequate resources, and coaching (not controlling) them.

Fourth, create a climate of trust that not only tolerates risk but encourages it.

Fifth, celebrate the contributions and successes of those in the organization.

John Henry Newman said, “Growth is the only evidence of life.” Too much control limits our lives and our organizations.

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