In nature, growth follows a predictable rhythm: Year 1 – Sleep, where roots deepen beneath the
surface with little visible progress; Year 2 – Creep, where strength builds, structure forms, and early
signs of life emerge; and Year 3 – Leap, when the plant reaches full maturity—thriving with abundant
growth and vitality. Leadership development is no different. The most impactful leaders grow in stages,
first grounding themselves in purpose and awareness, then building confidence and influence, and
finally multiplying their impact by helping others grow.
Leadership doesn’t happen overnight. It’s cultivated, intentionally, courageously, and with a
commitment to continuous growth. True leadership begins beneath the surface, where clarity, selfawareness, and purpose take root. Over time, that foundation transforms into influence, and
ultimately, impact.
At LAK Group, we call this journey The Leadership Growth Curve, a three-year evolution from learning
to leading to multiplying impact.
Year 1 – Learn. Leaders start by investing in themselves, building the mindset and mastery of
fundamentals that anchor every great leader. This phase is about clarity of purpose, humility, and
accountability. It’s not always visible progress, but it’s essential groundwork for sustainable success.
Year 2 – Lead. Growth becomes action. Leaders begin to move from insight to execution,
demonstrating consistency, building trust, and influencing others through modeling behaviors that
align with cultural beliefs. This is where leadership starts to shape culture, creating alignment and
momentum across teams.
Year 3 – Multiply. The most powerful leaders don’t just deliver results, they develop others,
demonstrate systems thinking and agility. In this stage, leaders expand their reach by coaching,
inspiring, and empowering the next generation. They become culture carriers, leaders who shape a
growth mindset while amplifying their impact across the organization.
Accelerating Growth Along the Curve
Moving leaders intentionally through the curve requires more than traditional training — it takes
structure, feedback, and connection. Research in leadership development consistently shows that each
phase of growth requires distinct development experiences that target both mindset and skillset
evolution.
Learn. Early-stage leaders often wrestle with ambiguity, self-doubt, and the shift from individual
contributor to leader. They need foundational experiences that build self-awareness, purpose, and
accountability. At this stage, learning should focus on mindset, helping leaders grow how they think, not just what they do. Assessments, reflection tools, and coaching conversations help leaders
internalize new ways of operating. When organizations create space for reflection and dialogue, they
accelerate root-level growth, the kind that fuels long-term success.
Lead. Once confidence and clarity take hold, development must evolve from awareness to application.
This is where experience becomes the classroom. Leaders should be placed in real-world stretch
assignments, cross-functional projects, and scenario-based learning opportunities that test judgment,
collaboration, and agility. Every experience should include a feedback loop, where leaders receive
input from peers, direct reports, and coaches, then immediately apply that insight to improve
performance. Integrating both internal and external coaching at this stage strengthens accountability
and ensures consistent alignment with the organization’s culture while providing perspective and
challenge from outside it.
Multiply. Mature leaders shift their energy from individual performance to developing others and
shaping systems. At this stage, coaching transitions from skill building to scaling leadership capacity
across the organization. These leaders act as multipliers, teaching, mentoring, and modeling the
behaviors that define high performance and trust. Research validates that leaders who combine
authentic connection with developmental coaching increase engagement, innovation, and
collaboration across teams.
Across all three phases, our research shows that the most effective leaders share a common thread:
core capabilities rooted in authentic connection, the ability to inspire, influence, learn, adapt, and
support others’ growth. By cultivating these connecting capabilities, leaders unify diverse teams, guide
change, and foster collective success.
The most advanced organizations are now designing ecosystems that blend structured experiences,
real-time feedback, and hybrid coaching models. Internal coaches reinforce cultural alignment and
day-to-day accountability, while external coaches provide objectivity, stretch thinking, and accelerate
vertical growth. Together, they create a powerful system for sustained leadership evolution—one that
ensures learning becomes behavior, and behavior becomes culture.
These are the leaders who elevate others, strengthen organizations, and create ripple effects that
extend well beyond the workplace. They don’t just lead well in the moment, they leave a legacy on
their people and the organization.
Finding Your Leadership Rhythm
Leadership growth is not a one-time event, it is a rhythm of learning, leading, and multiplying that
defines an organization’s success over time. The question every company should be asking isn’t if their
leaders are developing, but how intentionally they’re doing it. They recognize that developing great
leaders requires both structure and support: assessment to understand potential, coaching to
accelerate development, and culture to sustain it.
We have seen this time and again across industries and at every level of leadership. When
organizations invest in clarity, defining what great leadership looks like in their context, and pair it with
accountability, providing feedback, coaching, and real-time application, growth accelerates
exponentially. Leaders begin to find their rhythm.
At LAK Group, we help organizations build leaders who are confident, self-aware, and capable of
creating lasting impact. Whether through coaching, assessment, or immersive leadership experiences,
our approach is built on one truth: people are the differentiator.
If you’re ready to accelerate your leadership growth curve, and create a culture where every leader
learns, leads, and multiplies, let’s start the conversation. Learn More at www.lakgroup.com