Why Lifelong Learning Defines A True Leader

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Leaders of all industries are united by one thing in particular that they excel in – constant learning. Always being open to change and new development is a vital tool in the armory of any one stepping into a leadership role, and there’s an inherent value in embracing it as a part of your life and as a development of your leadership skills. In fact, some of the best leaders consider themselves on a constant learning curve. There are many different paths to learning – from those who have an innate drive to understand how the world works, to those who learn for personal fulfilment and those who learn in order to empower others. Whatever your route in, learning remains the best way to make informed decisions about the future of your business. 

Keep An Open Mind

Your first and most important task is to ensure that you keep an open mind. New concepts and ideas are always worth evaluating to see if they fit with your business plan. Accepting that there are areas you’ll never be expert in and seeking to learn more about these areas opens up a new world of opportunities for you in business. Practice being open to hearing new things and evaluating ideas without bias. What you learn might just end up changing your world. 

Make Time For Learning 

Lots of us have the best of intentions when it comes to expanding our knowledge, but we simply run out of time – and with the average daily to-do list of a business leader, it’s really little wonder! Carve out time for learning each week by planning it into your schedule just as you would any other appointment. You’re far more likely to honour it and not come up with excuses if it’s there in your diary. Learning can come in many forms – from informally shadowing colleagues in other areas of your organization to deepen your knowledge to something more formal such as sitting down to take an online course from an institution like Suffolk to gain a new qualification. Even things like listening to subject-focused podcasts or reading through the latest industry news is a form of continuous learning. The truth is that we’re absorbing ideas, thoughts and information all the time, throughout our daily interactions with others, but we have to consciously record that insight and act on it in order to make gains. Learning how to filter what knowledge is valuable to you and your operations is essential in order to keep your time focused and your business ahead of the curve. 

Share Your Insight 

Knowledge solidifies when we amalgamate it with what we already know or have experienced and pass it on to others. Sharing new learnings with others not only helps you to process it, but it makes the information more valuable. It’s a two way street, so remember to also be receptive to insights from other people as well. You can’t be a specialist in everything, so learn to employ people who have a natural aptitude and focus on other areas to enhance your business in many areas. 

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