Why Some Leaders Keep Growing While Others Plateau

Why do some leaders continue to grow and expand their influence while others hit a plateau or decline? Imagine two equally ambitious and talented leaders starting on the same path. Ten years later, one is head of a department, while the other struggles in middle management. What happened? What’s the secret ingredient to sustained growth?

Research shows that leaders who continue to contribute more and more consciously focus on continually developing their leadership skills. But it is not just about attending leadership seminars or hiring a coach. Nor is it just about motivation for professional development or possessing leadership talent. The real difference lies in something far more strategic.

Let’s look at why some leaders continue to grow and contribute while others don’t and explore why consistent action is what ultimately separates the two. We will discover that leaders who keep growing develop a clear plan, act on it, and continuously refine their approach.

It is not about having the right level of motivation

It’s easy to assume successful leaders are more driven or have attended all the “right” leadership development workshops. But motivation and training alone rarely result in lasting growth.

An article from Harvard Business Review aptly named “Why Leadership Development Programs Fail” showed that many leaders who invest in professional development don’t actually improve. Although they absorb a lot of information and report that they are engaged and inspired, they rarely apply it in real life. Going to yet another leadership seminar may sound inspiring, but without follow-up action, it’s just another bullet point on a résumé.

McKinsey & Company reports that although 70% of executives prioritise leadership development, only 25% of companies feel their programs are effective. The gap? A lack of focused action and follow-through. Information without execution doesn’t lead to real progress.

What Sets Growing Leaders Apart

Three key factors differentiate leaders who keep growing from those who plateau:

1.    Build self-awareness and embrace feedback

Self-awareness is the cornerstone of growth. We wrote about that in our recent blog on Authentic Leadership (see here). Leaders who understand their strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots can better adapt and improve.

According to research from ZengerFolkman, highly self-aware leaders are 4.4 times more likely to be high performers. These leaders seek feedback, reflect on their experiences, and adjust their behaviour.

A practical tip: Regular feedback is crucial. Tools like 360-degree assessments help leaders identify blind spots they may not know. Leaders with a growth mindset do not fear criticism. Instead, they use it as an opportunity to grow and improve. In contrast, leaders who lack self-awareness often repeat the same mistakes, stifling their growth and frustrating their teams.

2.    Create a goal-oriented action plan

A great development plan is not an end in itself. It is just a mean. But professional growth will not come without a plan. The most successful leaders set specific, actionable goals with measurable milestones and track their progress.

A study reported in Psychology Today in 2021 showed that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. Leaders who track and review their progress create accountability, which helps drive results.

And make specific steps. Vague ones don’t help you. Instead of vaguely saying, “I want to be a better communicator,” set specific steps like:

• Schedule monthly feedback sessions with my team members.
• Practice active listening during every meeting.
• Enrol in a public speaking course and deliver a presentation each quarter.

One thing is to plan, but if you just write it down and put it in your drawer, you are less likely to follow through. What is missing is accountability. A 2015 study from the Dominican University of California found that those who write down their goals and share progress with a colleague are 76% more likely to achieve them. Without a plan and accountability, growth is almost impossible.

3.    Commit to relentless, small actions

Consistent action is the most challenging but essential part of leadership development. It means stepping outside your comfort zone and trying new things.

Leaders who plateau fail on two accounts: either they don’t prioritise their professional development – they may not give it a second thought – or they get stuck in “analysis paralysis”, constantly planning but never acting. This also includes the small group of leaders who constantly attend leadership seminars and training but never apply what they learn.  In contrast, leaders who take even small, deliberate steps build momentum and improve steadily over time. Zenger Folkman’s research shows that leaders who act immediately on development goals are 38% more likely to show measurable improvement within six months.

Small actions compound over time which creates a powerful cycle of growth. As James Clear writes in his influential book ‘Atomic Habits’, the key to lasting improvement is not massive overnight change but the accumulation of small, consistent habits that deliver exponential results. Even a 1% improvement each day might seem insignificant, but over a year, that effort compounds, making you 37 times better than where you started. The power of compounding habits.

Leaders who continue to improve leverage this insight by constantly taking small but meaningful actions, knowing that these incremental steps will eventually lead to significant transformation. They don’t wait for the perfect conditions. Instead, they build momentum through small wins and adjust as they go along.

Taking action is the difference that makes the difference

The key takeaway from this article is this: Action is everything. You can read every leadership book, attend countless workshops, and set ambitious goals, but without consistent action, nothing changes.

The leaders who grow combine self-reflection with the relentless execution of an effective development plan. They try, fail, adjust, and prioritise progress over perfection.

Ask yourself:

• Have I identified my growth areas and created a plan to improve?
• Am I taking consistent steps toward those goals?
• How can I hold myself accountable for continued progress?

Great leadership is not a destination; it is an ongoing journey that requires a dedicated focus on continuous improvement and reflection on one’s actions. So, with that in mind, what step will you take today?