Let’s be honest. Growth is tough. Not just for companies, but for you. As a tech leader, you’re constantly solving problems, juggling fires, and trying to stay ahead of a moving target. Yet, somewhere along the way, it’s easy to start feeling… stuck.
Plateaus happen. Your calendar is full, but your sense of progress? Not so much.
What if the real lever for growth isn’t another playbook or productivity tool, but your own mindset?
That’s the premise of recent McKinsey research, which looked at what truly separates top leaders from the rest. Spoiler: it’s not about being smarter or having more experience. It’s about turning the right mindsets into everyday behaviors.
1. Prioritize Your Own Growth (Yes, Even When You’re Busy)
We’re wired to chase results. Project launches. Quarterly targets. New platforms. But how often do you zoom out and ask: “Am I growing, personally?”
A lot of leaders say they care about long-term growth, but spend the bulk of their time on urgent, short-term stuff. Sound familiar?
To grow, you need to protect time to invest in yourself. That might mean finally taking that leadership course, setting aside reading time, or blocking off a Friday afternoon for thinking, not doing.
2. Be Bold (Especially When It’s Uncomfortable)
Let’s face it, tech leaders aren’t strangers to risk. But when it comes to your habits and development? Playing it safe can feel easier.
McKinsey found that top leaders embrace experimentation and bold decisions, even when there’s a real chance of failing.
Why? Because growth lives on the edge of discomfort.
That bold move might be having a tough conversation you’ve been putting off, speaking up in a room where you usually stay quiet, or saying yes to a stretch opportunity you don’t feel 100% ready for.
3. Listen, Really Listen, to the People You Serve
Whether you’re supporting customers, end users, or your own team, the best leaders don’t just make decisions based on data. They listen deeply.
But McKinsey’s research shows a gap: most leaders believe they’re customer-centric, yet few regularly engage with feedback or act on it. That insight applies to personal growth too. Are you truly listening to the feedback coming your way from peers, mentors, even your team?
Growth-minded leaders invite feedback. They use it to refine, adjust, and evolve.
4. Surround Yourself with Growth-Minded People
Talent isn’t just about the people you hire, it’s about the energy you surround yourself with.
McKinsey found that high-growth leaders put their best people in roles that challenge them, not just reward them.
But here’s the personal twist: who’s challenging you?
Are you intentionally building a circle that stretches you?
Seek out mentors who’ve been where you’re going. Join communities that challenge your perspective. Make space for peers who ask tough questions.
5. Build Systems That Keep You Honest
Here’s the truth: nothing changes without execution.
Top leaders track growth initiatives just as rigorously as cost-saving ones. Why not apply that same discipline to your own development?
Create your own growth dashboard. Set personal KPIs. Build in feedback loops. Not because growth should be robotic, but because it deserves your attention and follow-through.
The Wrap: You Can’t Scale What You Haven’t Grown
There’s a saying in leadership circles: your organization can’t outgrow your own leadership capacity. And it’s true.
If you want your team, your business, or your impact to expand, you’ve got to lead the way. That means getting uncomfortable, staying curious, and being relentlessly intentional about your own growth.
So ask yourself:
- What bold move am I resisting?
- Who do I need to listen to more closely?
- Where am I coasting instead of growing?
- What one habit could I build this month?
The best leaders do the daily work of becoming the kind of leader who can carry that dream forward. It’s time to stop waiting for growth to happen, and start making it happen, from the inside out.
Because in the end, the most powerful transformation you’ll ever lead… is your own.
