The Seven Leader Journeys
Leadership is a journey
Our goal at Rootstock is to see leaders thrive in change. And change is hard. It often presents us with challenges we don’t feel equipped to face. You’ve probably heard the well-known Marshall Goldsmith maxim, “What got you here won’t get you there.” But getting “there” we must! We’re building our whole company around making sure leaders have the skills and knowledge to successfully navigate the nuances of the specific journey they’re facing. As it turns out, however, simply “knowing what to do” isn’t enough.
That’s because change is unsettling. Leaders stick out their own necks to take on the unknown. It makes us vulnerable. Questions rattle around in our hearts and heads. Will people buy into this vision? Can I move forward with enough confidence? Do I have what it takes? Can I find and keep the right people? How’s that for a list of questions to keep you up at night? For us at Rootstock, these questions aren’t scary—they’re exciting. They fill us with a sense of purpose, clarity, and hope. We aim to take you above the tree line to refresh your bearings and plan your next move.
We’ve seen leaders face several distinct kinds of journeys throughout their careers. While each journey is unique, we believe there are three things every leader should focus on to thrive:
Being a person worth following
Providing crucial clarity of purpose, vision and values
Building a great team
At Rootstock, we’re in the journey, too. Every choice we make yields new insight. The more time we spend with leaders, the more we discover and refine. We’re going to write more about how the three focus areas above apply in seven specific Rootstock Leader Journeys:
The “Level Up” Journey: For leaders who are stepping up in a significant way.
The “At the Top” Journey: For leaders in ultimate decision-making roles.
The “Taking New Ground” Journey: For leaders starting something brand new.
The “Getting Unstuck” Journey: For leaders tasked with getting a stagnant or failing organization or team back on track.
The “Leadership Transition'' Journey: For leaders motivated to develop a legacy through “next in line” leadership who will carry the organization into the future.
The “Fast Growth” Journey: For leaders facing unprecedented growth and in need of sustainability.
The “Intentional Individual” Journey: For motivated individuals who are independently prompted to develop their leadership skills for the days ahead.
See anything that resonates or causes you to react? What journey are you on? We’d love to hear from you.