Sustaining Long Term Growth

After defining your Purpose, building a Plan, measuring Performance, and embedding supportive Practices, the final pillar in the 5 Ps framework is Personal and Professional Development, which sustains long-term growth.

This pillar is about who you’re becoming over time. It’s not just about advancing your career or expanding your résumé—it’s about nurturing the knowledge, skills, and abilities you need to serve others well, lead effectively, and live with deeper meaning.

In higher education, it’s easy to get consumed by the demands of the academic calendar, committee work, crisis response, and ever-evolving expectations. But if we don’t intentionally invest in our own development, we risk burnout, stagnation, and even disconnection from the purpose that brought us into this work in the first place.

Why Ongoing Development Matters

Personal and Professional growth isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-do. As Brendon Burchard (2017) writes in High Performance Habits, “The moment you stop growing is the moment you start falling behind.” In a field that’s constantly shifting—whether through student needs, accreditation requirements, or leadership transitions—ongoing development helps you stay adaptable, relevant, and grounded in your values.

Whether it’s building new leadership competencies, expanding your emotional intelligence, staying current in your academic discipline, or cultivating personal resilience, your development fuels both professional impact and personal well-being.

Three Key Areas of Growth for Higher Ed Leaders

1. Skill Development for the Role You Have—and the One You Want

What are the most essential skills in your current role? And what competencies will help you grow into your next role?

• Attend conferences, webinars, and workshops related to your strategic focus areas (e.g., equity and inclusion, data-informed decision-making, digital transformation, student success).
• Join professional associations or communities of practice relevant to your functional area.
• Seek out cross-functional collaborations that stretch your perspective and challenge you to grow.

As Stephen Covey (1989) said, “Sharpen the saw.” Even in the busiest seasons, carve out time to invest in the tools that help you lead well.

2. Personal Growth to Support the Leader Within

Who you are matters as much as what you know. Personal development strengthens your:

• Self-awareness and emotional regulation.
• Communication and presence.
• Values alignment and ethical leadership.
• Resilience in the face of complexity or change.

Your professional growth is deeply tied to your personal growth. Reading, journaling, coaching, spiritual practices, or therapy can all be part of this journey. Growth isn’t just about gaining knowledge, it’s about gaining insight into yourself.

3. Reflective Practice for Long-Term Impact

Donald Schön (1983) introduced the concept of the “reflective practitioner”, a professional who learns from experience by thoughtfully analyzing it. This mindset helps transform routine work into meaningful development.

Build reflection into your practice by:

• Keeping a journal of weekly wins, challenges, and lessons.
• Starting team meetings with reflection questions.
• Holding space for debriefing projects, not just evaluating outcomes, but how people felt during the process.

These practices deepen both individual and collective learning.

Development as a Way of Being

Ultimately, personal and professional development isn’t a checkbox, it’s a way of showing up. It’s choosing to grow not just for advancement, but for alignment. When you grow, everyone around you benefits: your students, your colleagues, your campus, and your own well-being.

“Your level of success will seldom exceed your level of personal development.” – Jim Rohn.

Coaching and Development

A coach can help higher ed professionals clarify their growth goals, identify blind spots, and design a learning plan that aligns with their values, career trajectory, and current role. For those in mid- or senior-level positions, coaching offers a rare space for honest reflection and strategic thinking, something not always accessible in higher ed environments focused on outputs and outcomes.

Final Thoughts

Your development is not an optional extra. It’s the engine of your fulfillment and effectiveness. Because the most impactful higher ed professionals aren’t just knowledgeable, they’re intentional, self-aware, purpose-driven, and always learning.

By investing in your growth, you’re also reinforcing the other four Ps: your Purpose becomes clearer, your Plans become sharper, your Performance becomes more sustainable, and your Practices become more aligned with who you want to be.

Here’s to your continued success and fulfillment, in your career and beyond.

References

Burchard, B. (2017). High performance habits: How extraordinary people become that way. Hay House.

Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change. Free Press.

Schön, D. A. (1983). The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. Basic Books.