Are You the Lid on Your Team’s Growth?
- Leadership Harbor Coach
- Jun 4
- 3 min read
The truth is — someone is. And if you’re in a position of influence (which, by the way, YOU
ARE in one or more areas of your life), you need to ask yourself: Could it be me?
Here’s a tough reality check: Whoever is creating the lid on your team — whether it's in your business, your department, your family, or your friend circle — no one can move beyond that lid. It’s a cap on creativity, trust, communication, business growth, efficiency, and momentum.
A bit mind blowing, isn’t it?
Too Busy to Grow?
Not long ago, I had a conversation with a VP of a great, growth-oriented organization. This leader had signed up for a leadership development course but wasn’t showing up for it. When I checked in, they shared what I’ve heard a thousand times:
“I just can’t keep up with everything. Business is too demanding. Home life is
overwhelming. Something has to give — and right now, it’s my personal growth.”
Listen, I get it.We’re all stretched. There’s only so much time in a day, and self-care — especially personal growth — often feels like the lowest priority. Here’s the hard truth: That’s a dangerous lie we tell ourselves. Because when you stop growing, you stop leading effectively. And when you stop leading, you unknowingly become the lid on your team’s potential.
What Is This “Lid” Thing?
Glad you asked.This idea comes from The Law of the Lid, a principle John C. Maxwell teaches in his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. In a nutshell:
Your leadership ability acts as a lid on your effectiveness and the effectiveness of those you lead. The higher your leadership skills, the higher the lid — and the more potential you and your team have to succeed. The lower your leadership skills, the lower the lid — limiting not just yourself but everyone you influence.
Keys From The Law of the Lid:
Leadership is the limit. Your ability to lead dictates how far you, your team, and your organization can go.
Greater leadership = higher potential. Develop your leadership and that of your team, and you’ll raise the ceiling on what’s possible.
Leadership drives influence. The better leader you become, the greater your ability to impact people around you.
Real-Life Examples:
A brilliant tech expert who struggles to lead a team can only take a project so far — no matter how skilled they are.
A visionary leader with average technical skills but strong people leadership can move mountains by motivating others.
In sports, a talented player who leads well can lift an entire team higher than a star player who plays only for themselves.
It’s true in business.
It’s true in families.
It’s true in churches.
It’s true in sports teams.
It’s true in friend groups.
So Here’s the Bottom Line:
If you aren’t growing, you’re becoming the lid. And it’s not just your future you’re capping — it’s your team’s, your family’s, your organization’s.
When you raise your own lid, you raise the lid for everyone around you.
So what’s the one thing you can do today to stretch your lid a little higher?Read a chapter. Listen to a leadership podcast. Sign up for a course (and actually show up for it). Have a coaching conversation. (Just a reminder that Discovery Sessions to see what would most help you is always complimentary - as in, no charge).
Because leadership isn’t a title — it’s a daily choice to grow.
Questions? Give me a call. Set up a Discovery Session. Send me an email. I’d love to chat with you!
Kris
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