What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

Challenging myself with new and unfamiliar situations. Ask for help when I need it. Ensuring there is ample communication on my team.

Hello Sir, I am very impressed by your contributions to the community and genuinely concerned about Leadership issues as well. As an individual I continue to apply myself towards improving my Leadership skills in order to set an example for those who may follow me. As far as transitioning or leaving the service, developing oneself should never just STOP.

I don't think Leadership should ever be a skill that your not constantly honing. I still go the gun range to practice my marksmanship and I still go run and workout to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Why should Leadership be any different?
We get to learn some of the most sought after traits while in the military, in regards to leadership, mentor-ship, coaching and training. Why should we squander that skill-set? Personally, I continue to read books on leadership (since I've left the service I've re-read The Art of War of several times), Chesty's rules of success is still one of my favorites.
I am part of a peer to peer mentoring group that helps to continue to develop my skills as a leader. If I'm not doing my part to be a leader for my family and my organization, then what am I doing? "Train like you fight, fight like you train"

Just my .02

Semper Fi!

I agree with so many of the comments here. You never stop being a leader and my military background has developed skills for me that my peers and civilian leaders can't touch. I continue to feed off of those I've seen in my past both good and bad. You can't lead if you don't know how to follow and how to listen to your staff. You have to welcome criticism and you must take it and learn from it. I think you always continue to develop yourself and your leadership skills and that's how you continue to be a better leader.

I personally jump on free training that focuses on building relationships with others. Any training that helps you learn how people tick and how to motivate them fuels my fire.

Absolutely not. Just because one leaves the military, doesn't mean that one stops growing as a leader. Granted, I'm working on my BS in business administration w/ a focus on general management and so there are some leadership classes to take in the curriculum to make sure you get the full spectrum of what being a leader is about. I've spent time as a site security manage while as a contractor and also held a position as training room NCO at Fort Stewart and that was only as an E4 (normally held by an E6 or 7). Obviously, the battery saw potential in me to put me in such a slot. I've learned how to communicate professionally and distinctly a in such positions. Even while working at Fort Dix under HRC-Alexandria as the RC Medical Board Liaison, I was an E4 attending meetings for a master sergeant and giving briefings to senior NCOs and officers.

Leadership grows on a person. Of course the second part of that is taking courses in a curriculum that will make you a future leader. I've had the benefit of falling into positions that'll make this skill grow on me and make me a better person professionally.

Trust me your leadership skills apply, you just have to adapt them to civilian life. A team is still a team a leader surrounds himself with people that serve the team. Trust only those that have your back and always learn from those that have succeeded. Follow other leader that you want to be like learn their goals but earn it yourself. Make yourself stand out in a respected way. The rest happens.

Not for me. I am a constant...really constant...lover of knowledge. I don't even have to agree with the direction it comes from, but knowing more perspectives helps you lead better.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs PME and grabbing every leadership opportunity available. I also try to do things that take me out of my comfort zone. I don't want to get complacent in anything and I always try to stay dialed into what is going on with each section in our group.

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. —Jack Welch
I like this quote because it talks about growth. When I served, I did both PME and academic education (MS in Organizational Leadership) and I jumped at any opportunity to try out my skills (Honor Guard Commander, ROTC summer camp instructor, etc) along with my regular duties. Once I retired, I realized how valuable my leadership skills were and what was just as valuable was my habit of learning new skills (another masters, multiple certifications) and jumping in to try new things. I ended up being selected lead counselor and I got into the mentoring business and I find it not just rewarding but great for growth. They pose questions I never would have thought of...we look for answers together.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col Clayton Kirkland Lt Col Carter Wilson Lt Col (Join to see) MSG Pat Colby CMSAF Donald Sanders SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT CPT (Join to see) Kathlean Keesler SFC (Join to see) Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest 1SG Frank Boynton