Leadership is not about you; it's about investing in the growth

Hear the words of Ken Blanchard, teacher of leadership and servant of wisdom: “Leadership is not about you; it’s about investing in the growth of others.” In this saying lies the heart of true greatness. For many believe that leadership is a throne, a crown, a place to command and to be obeyed. But Blanchard strips away this illusion, declaring that true leadership is not self-exaltation, but self-giving. The leader’s measure is not in the power he hoards, but in the lives he raises up.

The ancients, too, proclaimed this truth. Confucius taught that the noble ruler is like the North Star, steady and bright, guiding others without striving for his own glory. The shepherd in the scriptures leaves none behind, for his worth is in the safety and growth of the flock. Plato himself, in his vision of the philosopher-king, described the ruler as one who governs not for his own benefit, but for the flourishing of the city. Thus across ages and lands, the true essence of leadership is the same: it is not about self, but about others.

Consider the example of George Washington. At the end of the American Revolution, when victory was won, he could have seized power and crowned himself a monarch. Yet he chose to return to private life, refusing the temptations of rule for his own sake. Later, when called again to serve, he became the nation’s first president, not as a tyrant, but as a steward, planting seeds for a republic that would grow beyond him. His leadership was not about himself—it was about investing in the growth of others, in a nation still fragile and young.

History also tells of Florence Nightingale, who could have lived in comfort, but instead walked into the filth of war hospitals. She trained nurses, reformed practices, and gave others the tools to heal. Her greatness lay not in commanding attention for herself, but in lifting up thousands through her work. By investing in the growth of others, she transformed medicine forever. She did not shine by standing above, but by kneeling to serve.

Blanchard’s words also strike as a warning. Those who lead for themselves alone build kingdoms of sand. History is littered with names of rulers who sought only their own power—Napoleon, Nero, countless others. Their glory blazed for a moment, but crumbled because they did not invest in the strength and growth of those they ruled. Without empowering others, their legacies could not endure. For only leaders who lift others create greatness that outlives them.

The lesson for us is clear: if you are entrusted with the care of others—whether as a parent, a teacher, a mentor, or a leader—make it your highest aim to invest in their growth. Do not hoard wisdom, but share it. Do not seek recognition, but give it. Do not see those you lead as tools for your own rise, but as souls entrusted to your care, whose flourishing is your truest measure.

What then must you do? Look upon those in your charge and ask: How can I help them grow? How can I leave them stronger, wiser, freer than before? Speak words that build, not break. Create opportunities for others to rise. Lead not by standing above, but by walking beside. In this way, your leadership will not be a shadow that fades, but a light that multiplies, carried forward by those you lifted up.

Thus remember Blanchard’s words: “Leadership is not about you; it’s about investing in the growth of others.” Let them guide your heart. For true leaders do not carve monuments to themselves—they plant gardens in the souls of others. And when those gardens bloom, their legacy becomes eternal.