How do you keep learning and growing as a leader?

One of my team members once told me that I could do better with my voice modulation in meetings. Our subordinates and peers watch us much more than our managers. And taking feedback from them is one of the most useful hacks to keep growing :)

As a leader, it is easy to fall prey to the vicious cycle of likes, praises, followers, and other vanity metrics. It is a general human tendency & one might forget the importance of continuous learning & growth. Here comes the importance of continuously seeking feedback from your audience & other mentors.

Feedback is a valuable tool for growth and to gain insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. Mentorship relationships with experienced leaders provide invaluable guidance and wisdom.

Leadership is a team effort that evolves. Feedback and coaching drive development in this process. 360-Degree input: Get all-around input to assess your leadership. This includes input from bosses, colleagues, subordinates, and external stakeholders like consumers and clients. Self-awareness: Feedback shows your behaviour and impact. It increases self-awareness, letting you objectively assess your strengths and faults. Building Trust: Accepting feedback builds team trust. When your staff sees you open to feedback and improvement, it fosters open communication and transparency. Structured Development: Coaching programmes structure leadership development.

As humans we tend to surround ourselves with people who are similar to us. This often leads to bias, preventing us from having our views challenged. I‘ve learned most from the people who had completely different views. This allowed me to move past my own comfort zone to take a different approach.

First you must have the mindset that your learning never comes to an end. There is always something more. Be open to it. There are tons of ways to grow. Podcasts, seminars, conferences, reading, audio books, on line programs, YouTube, etc. Mentoring is one of my favorites. Learning in a mentor/mentee relationship is a two-way street. Always beneficial. Grab a coffee or virtual coffee with someone you met at a networking event. Go with the mindset that they will teach you something. It works!!!

Leadership learning activities should be tied to a goal or vision. Tying learning activities to a vision provides direction, motivation, and alignment. Here few tips: -Identify your goals in life either personal or professional. -Assess your skills; what you are strong at and what you need to improve. -List all kinds of resources available that suit your need and support your vision. -Start by one subject at a time each week and move to the other one once mastered fully. When your actions are going in the same direction with your intentions, you improve your energy level and set the foundation for a strong self-esteem and self-confidence.

That is very true. Engaging in learning activities is indeed an effective strategy to continue learning and evolving as a leader. However, it requires a strong commitment to establishing a schedule and routine for these activities. Personally, I have made a commitment to reading books on leadership topics, listening to podcasts, and attending webinars. Additionally, I actively apply what I have learned in my daily work activities, allowing for practical application and reinforcement of the concepts.

In the age of Generative AI, universal knowledge has pressed the reset button. For all of us, regardless of how senior or junior we are. As a result, curiosity has become a superpower. The ability to learn, but more important, to be hungry for learning, is what will be needed more than anything.

Leadership development is a dynamic and ongoing process that demands continuous learning and skill enhancement. In today's rapidly changing business landscape, the ability to adapt and grow as a leader is essential. We can get Learnings from: -Online Courses -Workshops and Seminars -Reading -Podcasts and Webinars -Professional Associations and Communities Learning Mindset can be developed by : -Self-Assessment -Set Clear Goals -Diversify Your Approach -Seek Feedback

True leadership growth happens through practice, not theory. The best way to hone my skills is by stepping outside my comfort zone to lead stretching projects that test my abilities. For example, I volunteered to lead the launch of our new mentorship program to build my project management and stakeholder engagement capabilities. In team settings, I practice different approaches to conflict resolution and speaking up on controversial issues. Through continuous practice, I expand my leadership toolkit. I also proactively reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what I would do differently next time. Over time, my missteps decrease and confidence grows through real-world application.

While practicing and experimenting, it's important to – Learn to Fail Fast – failing itself isn't the critical factor; what truly matters is the opportunity to gain insights from failure. Embrace the concept of Learning to fail fast, for in doing so, you accelerate your learning curve while quickly recovering from setbacks. The only truly detrimental mistake is one from which you fail to extract valuable lessons.

Continuous learning and growth are essential for leaders to stay practical and relevant. Teaching is one strategy to keep learning and growing as a leader. Teach others. Whether mentoring junior employees or giving presentations, teaching helps reinforce your knowledge. Remember, the best leaders are often the best learners. By remaining curious, open-minded, and dedicated to self-improvement, you'll continue to evolve as a leader.

Becoming a leader isn't about just collecting knowledge. It's about action. Here's my take: 1. Start Small, Learn Fast: - Begin with pilot programs. Learn from feedback, refine, and scale. 2. Adapt Your Approach: - Leadership is like a toolbox; use the right tool for each task. Understand team strengths and apply them effectively. 3. Commit to Learning: - Great leaders are both specialists and generalists. Dive deep but also broaden your horizons. True leadership melds knowledge with action. It’s about trying, learning, and iterating. Embrace each challenge as a growth opportunity.

Here are some examples of how you can put your leadership learning into practice: 1) If you learn about a new leadership technique, try it out on a small project or with a small team. 2) If you read a book about leadership, identify one or two things that you can apply to your own leadership style. 3) If you attend a leadership training workshop, set a goal to practice one or two of the things you learned within the next week. 4) The more you practice your leadership skills, the better you will become at leading and influencing others.

Want to achieve military grade levels of personal effectiveness? Check in on how you FEEL: F focus - can you keep it? E energy - is it at a low level? E enthusiasm - can you muster it? L light - is there a mental dashboard warning on? You need all these elements: Without focus, you could miss the target you’re aiming for. Without energy, you won’t get up (or stay up) that hill. Without enthusiasm, it’ll be harder to rally your troops around you. Without a warning light, it’s hard to know when to stop and refuel. Get to know your ‘combat indicators’. *Something that isn’t right, or is out of place, something that could pose a threat.* They will increase your effectiveness.

To keep learning and growing as a leader, it is essential to embrace a mindset of continuous improvement and actively seek feedback from others (Kouzes & Posner, 2017). This involves cultivating a sense of curiosity, engaging in reflective practice, and being open to new ideas and perspectives (Edmondson, 2019). Additionally, investing in professional development through workshops, conferences, or online courses can expand one's knowledge and skills (Northouse, 2018). Finally, networking with fellow leaders and participating in mentorship programs can offer valuable insights and guidance for personal growth and development (MentorcliQ, 2021).

The process of reflecting and evaluating your leadership progress is not just a one-time event; it's a continuous loop of self-assessment and improvement. By actively engaging in this final step, you not only become a more effective leader but also set a powerful example for those you lead, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and growth in the leadership journey.

Imagine you're playing a video game. After you finish a level, what's the first thing you do? You probably stop and think about how you did, right? You might ask yourself, "Did I beat the bad guys? Did I collect all the treasures? Did I do my best?" Well, in leadership, it's a bit like that too. After you do something as a leader, like helping your friends with a school project or leading a game during recess, it's important to stop and think about how it went. Here's how you can do it: 1. Journaling 2. Self-Review 3. Feedback 4. Outcome Measurement. It helps you get better and learn more about being a great leader. It's a cool way to make sure you're doing your best and making the best choices when you're in charge!

Journaling is a powerful tool for enhancing reflection and evaluation in leadership development. According to a study by Kathryn S. Roloff, Amy C. Edmondson, and James R. Dillon (2007), journaling can promote self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-regulation, which are essential for developing leadership skills. Another study by James R. Bailey and Scheherazade Rehman (2023) found that the habit of reflection can separate extraordinary professionals from mediocre ones. By incorporating journaling into your leadership development plan, you can not only gain valuable insights and develop personal improvement strategies, but also contribute to intergenerational leadership learning through organizational knowledge management.