Developing Yourself and Others: The Four Elements That Matter Most
Every one of us has a responsibility to intentionally develop ourselves so we can bring our best contribution to the world. And if you’re a leader, that responsibility extends to the people you lead.
Leadership isn’t just about results—it’s about growth, both in yourself and in others. So how do we go about developing ourselves and helping others do the same?
Here’s one way to think about it:
1. Talents: Starting with What Comes Naturally
Let’s get this out of the way: you can’t be absolutely anything you want to be. Neither can I. At least, not to any meaningful degree of effectiveness. Your potential starts with your natural talents—what you’re inherently good at.
For example, I’m never going to be an all-star basketball player. I’m short and have poor hand-eye coordination.
Could I become passable if I worked hard enough? Maybe.
But great? Not a chance. I just don’t have the natural talent for it.
When it comes to developing yourself or others, the first step is identifying the natural talents that are already there. Some talents are obvious, but others only emerge when we try new things.
Ask yourself or those you’re leading:
Are you naturally good with words, people, or design?
Do you excel at thinking strategically, identifying patterns, or solving problems?
The journey starts there.
2. Skills: Honing Your Talents
Talents are raw potential. Skills are what happen when you develop those talents into something useful, practical, and impactful.
Here are three key ways to turn talent into skill:
Learn the theory. Read books, take courses, or watch tutorials. Learning from those who’ve gone before you accelerates growth.
Practice relentlessly. Write, design, create, or build—whatever your talent is, do it over and over again. Mistakes are part of the process.
Find mentors. Surround yourself with people who are further along than you. Learn from their successes, failures, and processes.
The more you invest in developing your skills, the more effective and impactful you’ll become.
3. Opportunities: Putting Skills into Action
Once a talent has been honed into a skill, it needs opportunities to grow. Development happens when skills are tested and stretched in real-world situations.
Here are three ways to find or create opportunities:
Volunteer. Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned—about leadership, conflict resolution, and creativity—came from volunteering.
Step up at work. Take on a new project, lead a task force, or tackle a challenge that no one else wants to own.
Start something new. Whether it’s a side hustle, a personal project, or a new initiative, creating your own opportunities can be one of the most powerful ways to grow.
For leaders, ask yourself: how can you create opportunities for those you lead? Growth happens when people are given a chance to stretch.
4. Character: The Foundation of It All
Here’s the truth: no matter how much talent or skill you have, it’s your character that will ultimately determine your success.
I’ll never forget this principle I learned early in life:
You don’t want your talents to take you where your character can’t sustain you.
Character is the lid. It sets the limit for how far your talents and skills can take you. Without it, the pressures of leadership or success can crush you—or worse, harm the people around you.
As leaders, we have to prioritize character over talent. Why? Because while you can delegate around a gap in skills, you can’t delegate around a gap in character. A lack of integrity, self-discipline, or humility is a problem waiting to happen. And the greater your influence, the greater the impact of that problem.
If you’re serious about your own development or the growth of those you lead, make character your top priority. It’s the foundation that supports everything else.
Where Do You Go From Here?
Whether you’re developing yourself or leading others, here are a few questions to guide your next steps:
What natural talents can you identify in yourself or those you lead?
How can you help develop those talents into skills?
What opportunities can you create or step into to stretch and grow?
What aspects of character do you need to focus on in the next 12 months?
Growth is a journey. It requires intentionality, effort, and time. But the investment is always worth it—for yourself, for those you lead, and for the world that benefits from your best contribution.