“Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it’s a rebirth of the spirit.”
Toni Sorenson
Spring is a season of renewal. The days stretch longer, the air turns warmer, and the world around us begins to bloom. I love this time of year—it’s my second favorite season after fall. If fall is the harvest, spring is the season of preparation. It’s a time of planting, cultivating, and trusting that what we sow today will yield results in the future. It’s the time to refresh our own leadership growth mindset.
Leadership follows this same rhythm. Growth doesn’t happen overnight. To create an impact, we as leaders invest long before we see tangible results. We must build relationships, develop teams, and cultivate a culture that takes root over time. Just as a farmer plants in faith, leaders must be willing to invest in what isn’t yet visible. We must have a vision, plant the seeds, do the work.
And this is where the challenge arises: patience. Growth requires time, and time demands trust. Leadership isn’t about quick fixes or instant success—it’s about daily decisions that shape the future. So, the question for all of us is; what seeds are we planting today? And are we willing to nurture them, even when the results aren’t immediate?
Planting with Purpose—A Leadership Growth Mindset
A leadership growth mindset means embracing the reality that growth is a process, not an event. Just as a farmer sows seeds with confidence in the future harvest, leaders must take steps today that may not bear fruit for months—or even years. This mindset is about patience, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to long-term success.
A Leadership Growth Mindset Begins with Planting—Even Without Guarantees
B.C. Forbes once said, “It is only the farmer who faithfully plants the seeds in the spring who reaps a harvest in the autumn.” For me, this word—faithfully—is the key. The best leaders choose to invest in their people, their teams, and their culture long before the results show. And yet, many give up too soon. When results aren’t immediate, frustration creeps in. But leadership isn’t about instant gratification; it’s about trusting the process.
What investments are you making in your leadership today that will shape your impact in the years ahead?
One of the books that has shaped my leadership philosophy is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. Covey’s principle of “beginning with the end in mind” aligns perfectly with planting with intention. Leaders must define what they want to cultivate before they begin the work. Spring is the perfect time to step back, reflect, and ensure you’re planting the right things.
The Patience and Discipline of Growth
Nothing meaningful grows overnight. Leadership isn’t about quick wins—it’s about staying the course. Think about a tree. The moment a seed is planted, the work has only just begun. It takes years of watering, pruning, and protection before it reaches its full potential.
The same is true for leadership. It’s easy to want immediate change, but transformation takes time. The best leaders understand that patience and discipline separate those who simply manage from those who truly lead. Are you focused on short-term results or building something that will last?
The Leadership Growth Mindset: Nurturing the Seeds You’ve Planted
A leadership growth mindset is about more than just planting—it’s about tending to what you’ve started. Without consistent care, even the best ideas and intentions wither. Leaders who embrace this mindset commit to continuous improvement, build resilience, and view challenges as part of the journey, not roadblocks.
Key Leadership Practices for Nurturing Growth:
- Create a Growth-Oriented Culture – Encourage your team to see learning as essential and mistakes as stepping stones.
- Recognize Small Wins – Progress fuels momentum. Celebrate growth along the way.
- Stay Committed to the Vision – When challenges arise, remember why you started and keep moving forward.
There will be moments when progress feels slow and when obstacles feel insurmountable. But just like the farmer who plants in faith, leaders must trust the process. Growth isn’t always visible at the moment, but every challenge brings an opportunity.
Carol Dweck’s Power of Yet perfectly captures this mindset. Instead of seeing obstacles as failures, we can see them as steps forward—opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve. Her TED Talk has influenced my leadership approach, reminding me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers today but about committing to growth over time.
Actionable Leadership Practices
Plant with Intention
Step back and define success in your leadership. Be deliberate about investing in yourself and your team. What skills, habits, and values are you cultivating? Start planting those seeds today.
Be Patient but Proactive
Growth takes time, but it doesn’t happen by accident—consistency matters. I’ve sometimes doubted whether my efforts were making a difference, but leadership—like gardening—is about steady, persistent care. Small actions, repeated over time, lead to transformation.
Embrace the “Yet” Mentality
Challenges are part of leadership. Instead of saying, “I can’t,” shift to “I can’t yet.” This shift fosters resilience and creates a culture of learning. You can’t eat the corn the day you plant it, but your effort today makes the harvest possible.
This Spring, What Seeds Are You Planting to Build Your Leadership Growth Mindset?
Leadership is a long-term commitment. Like a farmer in spring, we plant, nurture, and trust the process, knowing that real growth takes time. The challenge is staying faithful during planting, even when the harvest is far off.
Reflection Questions:
- What leadership seeds are you planting today, and how will they shape your future?
- How do you stay committed to growth when progress feels slow?
- What habits or routines can you implement to nurture the seeds of leadership you’ve planted?
- Who are the people you are investing in, and how are you helping them grow?
- What lessons have past failures taught you about yourself along your own leadership journey?
