?? Lifelong Learning as a Leader ??

When the ambition idea of lifelong learning comes face to face with the reality of 13-hour workdays, freely-expanding schedules, and families to run, there’s only ever going to be one winner.

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the feeling. There’s a growing pile of strategy books on your desk, a final accreditation you’ve been delaying.

And it may be controversial, but, for me, there’s nothing that will enrich your leadership qualities as much as a commitment to lifelong learning. It’s a serious catalyst for your personal and business growth. 

With that being said, how can you make sure you don’t sideline your commitment to lifelong learning in the daily hustle and bustle of work, life, and play?

Here are three ideas that have helped me as I’ve tried to keep educating myself alongside everything else.

1) Leaders are readers, but be highly selective

While the old saying is without a doubt true to this day, it should come with an asterisk saying “realize how many books you can realistically read or listen to a month and be incredibly selective with your choices”. Take a long hard look at your reading list for 2019/20 and have a serious think about your choices. How many of them are directly relevant to your role and unique organization, or even your industry? How many of them have been recommended by top executives or thought-leaders in your industry?

That’s not to say you shouldn’t read widely, I believe the opposite is true in fact. But if the titles aren’t related to your role or industry, make sure they offer enough to justify the five or ten hours you’ll probably give up to read them. If you have any hesitation about whether they’re “must-reads” or simply “would-like-to-reads”, strike them off your list and find something better.

2) Start small and build it into your routine 

As with exercise and cooking healthy meals, keeping your education up is immeasurably easier if it’s built into your routine. So start small with realistic goals and find a chunk of time every day to keep learning. Whether it’s a few chapters of an inspiring audiobook on your morning commute, an entrepreneurship podcast on your lunch break, or half an hour of an online course before bedtime, make it a habit. Overlapping your learning with a walk, a workout, or a commute is a surefire way to get through more of the books, talks, and discussions you’ve had on your list for months.

3) Take your team along with you

Your lifelong learning needn’t be a solitary pursuit. Share the best podcasts, books, and research you find with your partner and friends. Make your team sign up to the best learning resources you find. Take them along to that lecture or sign up for the same course. And know that encouraging your team to grow through lifelong learning will massively benefit them both personally and professionally. 

The people you hire should already be this way inclined, but make sure the support is there for them to continue their education and the work culture you have created actively encourages it. Keep an ear to the ground for the best conferences and seminars and bring in the most inspirational trainers and speakers in your industry. Not only should upskilling and educating yourself and your team in this way be an integral part of your strategy, but the bonds and friendships that arise out of learning and growing together will also strengthen you all.