Last week, I wrote a blog post entitled “Always be a learner!” It referenced some of my own learning, especially as a young administrator, but also talked about the importance of organization learning. I want to remain with the theme of personal learning but specifically look at (1) Learning from anyone and (2) The discomfort of learning.
Great leaders learn from everyone. They understand that there is no hierarchy in the learning journey. Everyone has lessons that can be taught, some good and some are bad, but learning is always the preferred outcome. I was fortunate to have a dream team when I was a superintendent. While I knew I had some specific strong leadership skills, I relied on them to make our team whole. Their expertise, their ability to approach problems differently than I did allowed for significant growth in my own leadership. But any decent leader should understand that you surround yourself with better and brighter.
Too often we look to the so-called experts in the field to only guide our learning. While that is not necessarily wrong, it is narrowminded and potentially a missed opportunity! I still go back to the lessons I learned on humility, service and sacrifice from our custodian when I was superintendent. She taught so many lessons without ever “teaching” to those around her willing to learn. I now watch with much joy at life through the eyes of our grandchildren. They teach me everyday about curiosity and wonder. Children have many lessons to give to adults if we would just be willing to listen and learn. Regardless, learning from anyone is necessary for all great leaders!
Learning is messy! It takes time and to learn you must be willing to enter into the realm of discomfort. Why do most people hesitate to learn something new? Learning something new takes a person from competence to incompetence and from comfort to discomfort. People don’t like to feel this way and we are so averse to “failure” that people tend to stay in their comfortable status quo. Success and failure are not as opposite as one would like to think.
We do not expect children/students to “get it right” on the first try and we see their learning as a journey of failures and successes. But, for adults, that just seems too unnatural. Yet, that is the only way deep learning occurs; through steps and missteps. Discomfort (with support) is fully required for growth and learning.
Adam Grant in his book, “Hidden Potential” says the following:
“Becoming a creature of discomfort can unlock hidden potential in many different types of learning. Summoning the nerve to face discomfort is a character skill- an especially important form of determination. It takes three kinds of courage: to abandon your tried-and-true methods, to put yourself in the ring before you feel ready, and to make more mistakes than others make attempts. The best way to accelerate growth is to embrace, seek and amplify discomfort.”
Great leaders are great learners. They are learner ready in all situations and welcome the vulnerability of discomfort.
