The Growth Standard
Leadership insights for those raising the bar—in business and life.
Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Growth Standard—your bi-weekly LinkedIn newsletter for practical, people-first leadership.
I’m Shawn Collins. I’m a believer, husband, father, entrepreneur, and coach. I’m also the founder of EXTEND GROUP, a certified GiANT Worldwide Guide, and BETTER Partner. Whether you lead teams in the boardroom, on the field, or in your community, this newsletter exists to provide you with clear, actionable leadership content that you can use right now.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll unpack timeless leadership tools, communication strategies, and decision-making frameworks drawn from my keynote talks, athletic coaching, and leadership development work with teams nationwide.
Let’s kick things off with one of the most transformational tools I’ve used across every environment I lead: Rules of Engagement for Team Voices.
Experience the 5 Voices in Action
Every team has potential conflict, and some level of tension is necessary for growth. But far too often, teams burn out or break down not because of a lack of skill, but because of a lack of self-awareness and clarity.
In my work with GiANT, we help teams recognize the 5 Voices present in every high-performing group. These Voices—Nurturer, Creative, Guardian, Connector, Pioneer—each bring value, but they also bring different expectations and communication tendencies. That’s why we teach every team the Rules of Engagement to work better together.
Let’s Break It Down:
- Nurturers – Speak up. Your team needs your full, honest insight. In return, they’ll critique your ideas with care.
- Creatives – Share your visions boldly. Your team will ask clarifying questions instead of dismissing your ideas too soon.
- Guardians – Keep asking the tough questions. The team commits to staying present and engaged with your details.
- Connectors – Champion your ideas, not just the people. The team will challenge them with trust and transparency.
- Pioneers – Lead strategically but listen first. The team promises to engage without taking criticism personally and push back with courage.
These mutual agreements allow teams to move from personality clashes to purposeful collaboration. They also give leaders the language to address tension with grace and clarity, instead of frustration or avoidance.
Why This Matters
When teams don’t understand how their members are wired, hustle becomes frantic, and grace becomes reactive. But when we lead with awareness, we reduce friction and maximize strengths.
Great culture isn’t accidental—it’s built through intentional, repeatable behaviors.
Next Issue: We’ll explore The Peace Index and how leaders can manage personal well-being while leading others.
Tools to Take With You:
Featured Insight: Rules of Engagement for Every Voice
Insight 0001: Experience the 5 Voices in Action
Teams don’t break down because of talent gaps—they break down due to communication gaps. This edition explores the Rules of Engagement that help different personality types collaborate instead of collide. Learn how the 5 Voices—Nurturer, Creative, Guardian, Connector, Pioneer—can transform your team’s dynamics.
Read how each voice contributes and how to align them under one mission.
From the Blog:
“How to Avoid Leadership Drift”
Are your actions aligned with your influence? In this recent article, I break down how to refocus your leadership to avoid falling into autopilot. Read the full article
“Communication Code: How to Speak So They Actually Hear You”
The best ideas fail when the communication behind them breaks down. This post reveals how using the Communication Code can eliminate friction and foster trust. Explore the article
Upcoming Events You Should Know:
5 Voices for Teams – In-Person Community Cohort Starts: Monday, June 9, 2025 | Location: THRIVE Hall (Evansville, IN) Create shared language and self-awareness across your team. Register Now
Toolkit Sessions – Virtual Leadership Series Starts: Thursday, June 12, 2025 | Format: Monthly via Zoom Equip yourself with GiANT’s top 12 visual leadership tools—one tool at a time. Save Your Seat
Coming Next:
In Edition 02, we’ll explore The Peace Index — a simple but powerful framework to help you assess your internal wellbeing, so you can lead others from a place of clarity, not chaos.
Let’s keep raising the standard—together.
