The seven beliefs and behaviors that growth leaders share
Growth is a journey that requires the entire business to constantly adjust, optimise, and execute, and it starts at the top. Only with the right mind-set can leaders hope to drive growth across the business.
McKinsey & Company surveyed 65 C-suite executives and senior vice presidents with growth responsibilities and conducting in-depth interviews with 20 executives, and found that growth leaders 1 have seven specific beliefs and behaviours.
Those who adopt more than 70% of these mindsets manage to grow their top line twice as fast as their peers. The seven statements that reflect the convictions of today’s growth leaders are:
1. I am all in. Always put growth first.
2. I am willing to fail. Make plenty of bets.
3. I know my customer as a person, not as a data point. Take the customer’s side.
4. I favour action over perfection. Put yourself on the line.
5. I fight for growth. Avoid short-termism.
6. I have a growth story I tell all the time. Infuse the business with purpose.
7. I give control to others. Build up people’s growth muscles.