Are You Learning From The Best?

Two days ago I returned from the Global Speakers Summit 2022 in the Croke Park Stadium in Dublin (photo above was taken during the opening ceremony). The team of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA) UK and Ireland as the host had put an amazing (!) program together: 4 days full of keynotes, workshops, ideas, personal connections, and ...energy for me (even though I am now still somewhat exhausted, I have to admit). Some of the finest and best speakers in the world shared their expertise, their insights, touched the audience, and let us all participate in what they had learned within the course of their lives. I am still trying to sort this inspirational fireworks in my brain.

A thought worth sharing

In the closing keynote, the wonderful David Hyner shared a quote ... and a thought with us, that I would like to also share with you. It was definitely a word and a thought that is worth sharing:

"Don′t look up to successful people. Look INTO them."

Who said this? Kris Akabusi, a former Britisch athlete and European Championship gold medal winner. Don′t look up to successful people. Look into them. David Hyner made his point: we can only excel, if we learn from the best! Connect with them and understand the way they are working, the way they are thinking, the way they are seeing things. And David encouraged us to reach out to great people that we can learn from, and seek mentoring from them.

Do you want to grow?

Have you asked yourself recently: Am I connected to valuable people that I can learn from?People that can help me advance in my field, or as a person? Leading experts? Role model leaders? We will never get to the best of us just by ourselves. To do so, we need people helping us. Would you agree?

If you want to grow, I would like to encourage you to reach out to people that you admire and respect, even if they seem to be far away. Find somebody as a mentor in the area in which you want to advance. If that person is not willing to mentor you, he or she might be willing to answer you some questions once in a while. Hey, this is much more than ... nothing!"

Dare to ask!

Yes, there is this big fear: If I asked, the person could say "no", and I would feel rejected. We all know that fear. So what?! There is also the chance that the person says "yes" and is willing to help you, take you under his or her wings. Great people often do like to help, if they are approached properly, they feel the person asking is worth their time, and if their schedule allows it. If you do not ask, you might miss a great opportunity to evolve personally. For my book "MASTERING THE TIGHTROPE - 7 Leadership Lessons taught by Life" I wished so much to tap into the wisdom and perspectives of top industry leaders. So I reached out to some top level executives, like Martin Richenhagen, the President of the AGCO Corporation back then. I called the AGCO headquarters in Atlanta. Hesitated. Wrote a mail. Was I scared? Hell, yes! Would they want to talk with "little Bruno"? Yes, they did.

Please share your wisdom

At this point I would also like to address one thought to all those of you who are leading experts or experienced leaders: please share your wisdom and help other people grow. Please help grooming people. Be available as a mentor. It makes such a difference. Isn't it one of the most important task as a leader that wants to make an impact ... to help people grow? Organizations and companies can only become more valuable, if the people in it become more valuable, right?

Are you learning from the best? Why not? Think about it for a moment... and take a decision.

And to you, dear David Hyner: thank you for sharing this valuable impulse with us!