Say, “I’m learning,” not “I’ve learned.”
“I’ve learned,” gives the impression of arrival and we both know you ain’t there yet.
Learning or learned:
Learning is a matter of the heart, not the head.
You’re learning or you’re getting stupid.
Learning reflects courage, openness, and humility. Arrogance makes you stupid.
What have you learned:
A member of the audience recently asked, “What have you learned about leading?”
Everyone wants to know ‘how to’ solve a problem, answer a struggle, or eliminate stress.
Learning new leadership techniques, strategies, methods, and skills is easy compared to the battle that lies within.
The greatest struggle of leadership is in your heart – between the power of humility and the seduction of arrogance.
Humility practices vulnerability.
- A vulnerable heart learns. You remain as you are until you open your heart.
- An arrogant heart thinks it knows when it doesn’t.
- A humble heart respects the talent, experience, and perspective of others.
Learning new skills – without heart – distracts you from the real work of leadership.
The great delay:
The thing that most delays the growth of leaders is arrogance.
Symptoms of arrogance:
- Turnover on the team. Talented people run from leaders who won’t listen.
- Feeling you’re right, even when you have no experience or training.
- Needing to have all the answers.
- Lack of curiosity.
- Contradicting the voice of experience offhandedly. Often the thing you don’t like hearing is the thing you most need to hear.
Less arrogant:
Recently I’ve found that working to be less arrogant is better than working to be more humble. There’s something freeing in the language of ‘less arrogant’.
Show up to be a little less arrogant today.
- Smile. Arrogance looks smug, serious, or high-and-mighty.
- Ask more questions. Go on a curiosity walk-about.
- Notice strength in others.
How might you be a little less arrogant today?
What are you learning about leadership?