Leaders are Learners

Can you recall your grandparents saying, “Back in my day…”? The world is changing, and the pace of that change is multiplying. The wisdom of experience is invaluable, yet we need to be ready to embrace new ways of working and living to make that wisdom relevant.

Flanagan and Gregory (Forever Skills, 2019) talk about providing insight. To be able to make sense of information, they remind us to look for patterns, be aware of our biases, seek to understand, and make meaning from information. These are learned skills that leaders can practice to engrain in their day to day.

They also suggest we sit on the other side of the argument. Now this is a skill the world needs more than ever!

Leaders who are learners build a culture of learning in their organisations.

Have you ever noticed in a meeting the person who asks questions then sits back and listens? The wisest person in the room is rarely the loudest.

Leaders encourage staff development, including their own. They are open to learning from their team because they surround themselves with clever people and are prepared to be corrected. According to Gallup, this creates transparency and openness, and I believe encourages both creativity and a better preparedness that things might go wrong.

Being a lifelong learner is not always comfortable but is essential to working effectively, and it is the only way to be comfortable with today’s exponentially increasing change.

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