C-C-I-R & The Continuous Learning Journey

I am deep into preparation for a 14-day photography trip up to the Hudson Bay in far Northern Manitoba, Canada. The prep includes figuring out how to do something I've never done before - photograph a time-lapse sequence of the Aurora Borealis while we are up there... they get some 300 nights a year of the aurora, so we are assured of getting some great opportunities at the remote lodges.

The Call To Be C-C-I-R

The prep work has me thinking about continuous learning and my C-C-I-R mantra (Current - Connected - Involved - Relevant)... C-C-I-R is my constant 'self check' on 'am I learning something new, something that challenges me to get outside my comfort zone' on a regular basis?"

That's a challenge and a 'call to action' for leaders everywhere... in any industry or profession. Staying 'green and growing'... being in continuous learning mode rather than in 'knowing mode' is important to every leader's growth and evolution. Yes, there are times and situations where you do 'need to know'... the challenge is to fall into the trap of thinking that you 'know what you need to know'... because... frankly... you just don't know what you don't know, regardless of your age, experience, time in the job.

The rate of change is so relentless that you don't know what you don't know... which makes cultivating your ability to be in continuous learning mode... in any situation, any circumstance more important than ever.

Preparing for this trip really brought those thoughts into focus for me... Yes, I know a fair amount about photography... particularly wildlife photography and even more particularly BIF (Birds In Flight) photography. The image at the top of this article is a Florida Swallow-Tailed Kite 'grabbing air' after a quick drink of water. It's one I captured on a recent four day trip to photograph them in a roosting area before they migrate to South America for the Winter. These birds are particularly hard to photograph because they are such 'fast movers' and all the action happens in about 20 minutes early in the morning. I've done this trip twice and learned a lot about getting successful capture like this. AND, it has NOTHING to do with successfully capturing a time-lapse of the Aurora Borealis in Canada soon... so... into learning mode... remembering that photography is a continuous learning opportunity, and the C-C-I-R possibilities are always there...

Learning Mode vs Knowing Mode

That reminder from my avocation is also a 'right-in-front-of-my-face' reminder about my role as facilitator of a CEO Peer Advisory Group. I've been doing this for 25 years now and in the last 30 days, a situation presented that has NEVER come up before... here I'm thinking I pretty much 'know what I need to know' about doing this work and suddenly...?

LEARNING MODE is calling... loudly... challenging me to 'be a beginner again' and learn something new. I believe that my professional life and my avocation life feed each other almost ideally... each a constant reminder that C-C-I-R and Continuous Learning are always important and can't be ignored.

Since I got out of MBA Graduate School - a long time ago now - the 'rate of change' has always been a topic. The amazing thing is that it is a little like 'Moore's Law' about the increased power of computer chips... that it would double about every 18 months... and it pretty much has since that first 8088 chip from Intel...?

The Rate of Change… Keeps Changing

Like computer chips, change has sped up... every year... and the acceleration continues... at an accelerated rate… It is sometimes a process that you can assimilate quickly... other times it is baffling, confusing and requires going deep into that continuous learning mode to get at least 'more comfortable' with what's happening.

Artificial Intelligence... Large Language Models... ChatGPT, Google Gemni, Anthropic Claude, MS CoPilot, Perplexity AI have roared onto the business and social landscape in just about 24 months, bringing more change and promise of change than anything since the "Dot-Com Boom" of 1999... and if you read something that was current last week... it is probably out of date today...

While the 'promise of AI' is largely still 'out there somewhere' for most companies and leaders... I recently heard a Bank of America senior investment manager comment that in the next 4-5 years, there will be two type of companies... those that figured out how to use AI effectively in their business... and those that don't exist any longer because they did nothing.'

The unprecedented rate of change is requiring leaders to 'step up' like never before... to challenge ourselves to be C-C-I-R... to be in Learning Mode rather than Knowing Mode. (If you'd like to explore those ideas more, Google "Lee Thayer" and his 25+ books on leadership.)

A Couple of Leadership Thought Starters…

So, Leader... what are you doing... at least a couple times a week... better yet daily (which I can tell you is tough to do) to be a continuous learning leader??

• How are you listening to that 'dumb idea from a new gen Z employee' that just might not be so dumb after all??
• How are you reminding yourself that the relentless rate of change requires you to be a continuous learner, regardless of how accomplished or successful you are?

Those are a couple of ‘thought starter’ questions for you... and for your team...

What will you do with them today?