Q♦️ The never ending journey: The mark of a great leaders 

Are you a great business leader? Are you a successful business leader? Well, I hope there's an element of truth in both of those. But are you the finished article? Do you know all the answers?

Problem or challenge:

Some leaders may become complacent and stop learning once they have achieved a certain level of success. In my experience this leads to stagnation and a decreased ability to adapt to new challenges.

Complexities:

You know well enough how busy the life of a business leader is. There is limited time for professional development. Ironic really as learning how to do things better, smarter, more effectively can save so much wasted time. Whether it’s learning about shortcuts to get more success more quickly or learning how to avoid mistakes that waste time, energy and money, investing in good learning saves time.

Likewise a fear of making mistakes hinders learning and growth. There is no doubt that you will have felt imposter syndrome at least once in your career. Doubts about showing one’s lack of knowledge can also put you off from seeking out new knowledge and skills.

Solution: 

Becoming a great leader is a never ending journey. You need to keep working at it. Whether it's learning through formal mechanisms like training courses and MBAs, whether it's learning through informal mechanisms like videos, books and articles like this. Or whether it's simply learning from experience, and from talking to your peers in peer groups like MD2MD. I'd encourage you to keep on learning.

Prioritise professional development: Make time for learning and growth, whether through formal training, reading, or attending conferences.

Seek feedback: Actively seek feedback from colleagues, subordinates, and superiors to identify areas for improvement.

Embrace failure: View failures as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than as setbacks.

Network with peers: Connect with other leaders in your industry to share experiences and learn from each other.

Stay curious: Maintain a curious and inquisitive mindset, always seeking out new information and ideas.

Don't feel nervous because you don't feel you know all the answers. That is normal. That is a sign that you're a good leader. So please put aside the imposter syndrome, keep learning, keep striving and keep aiming to be an even better leader every single day. Because that's ultimately what will deliver even better results for your business and your life.

Benefits:

By prioritising lifelong learning you can:

• Improve decision-making: A broader knowledge base can lead to more informed and effective decisions.

• Enhance innovation: A learning mindset can foster creativity and innovation.

• Build credibility: Demonstrating a commitment to learning can enhance your credibility and reputation.

• Increase employee engagement: If you are a leader that is passionate about learning and development you can inspire and motivate your team to be the same. 

Why it works:

Lifelong learning is essential for staying relevant in today's fast-paced business environment. By continuously seeking out new knowledge and skills, you can position yourself for success and better navigate the challenges of the future.

Measurement:

The effectiveness of your commitment to learning can be measured through various metrics, such as:

• Employee satisfaction: Measure employee satisfaction and engagement levels to assess the impact of your leadership style.

• Innovation: Track the number and quality of innovative ideas and initiatives generated by you and your team.

• Performance metrics: Monitor key performance indicators to assess the impact of the your  decisions and actions.

• Peer recognition: Seek feedback from peers and colleagues to gauge your reputation and effectiveness.

My Story:

When I was 20 I knew all the answers. Just sadly, nobody ever listened to me. Nobody paid me attention. Well that’s how it felt. It wasn’t quite true.

Fortunately I began to learn.  That being clever and telling others where they are wrong isn’t a great way to win friends and influence people.

With hindsight I now know how much I had to learn. And now I know so much more. About people as well as business, I also know how much there is still to learn. Learning is a never ending process and indeed it seems the more you learn, especially about people and leadership, the more you find there is to learn.

By embracing a lifelong learning mindset, you can become a more effective and successful leader. Make time for professional development, seek feedback, and stay curious. Remember, the journey of leadership is never-ending, and continuous learning is essential for staying ahead.