What did you Learn Today?

April 2021

I was recently asked a terrific question. It was one that I had never been asked before, but one that really made me think: “If you had to sum up your personal leadership philosophy in just four words, what would those four words be?”

Today, and in my next three blog posts, I will answer that question along with why I selected each of my four descriptive words. But before I go on, I will ask you to consider that same question.  What four words sum up your personal leadership philosophy?

Give it some thought before you read on. There is no right or wrong answer. I am not going to grade you. Just think about what makes you the kind of leader you are. Alternatively, consider what four words best describe what made the best boss you ever had such an inspiring leader?   

Granted, there are all different kinds of leaders and there is no single gold standard. The characteristics of leadership that work extremely well in some situations may not work as well in other cases, or for other people. Everyone has their own unique strengths. It is our differences that make the world go around.

Some leaders are so beloved by their adoring followers that they are touted as best-ever bosses. I interviewed several recognized best-ever bosses in my first two books, The WOW Factor Workplace: How to Create a Best Place to Work Culture and Heartfelt Leadership: How to Capture the Top Spot and Keep on Soaring. While I never asked any of these leaders which four words they might choose to describe their personal leadership philosophies, I would venture a guess that each would likely choose words uniquely different from the others, even though each one of them exemplifies what I call heartfelt leadership.     

As for myself, the four words that I believe best sum up my own leadership philosophy have served as my guiding stars throughout my career. The first of my four words is Learn.

“Why Learn?” you may ask.

Because, just as life is, the art of leadership is a learning experience. I believe that to be an effective and inspiring leader, you must be a lifelong learner. You will never come to know all there is to know about being a great leader. There is no point at which you will have arrived, but I continuously strive to get there. 

One of the inspiring leaders I interviewed in my first two books was Garry Ridge, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the WD-40 Company. In my first book, The WOW Factor Workplace, Garry had this to say:

“One of the lovely things we have here at WD-40 is that we don’t make mistakes, rather we have learning moments.  Why? Because a ‘learning moment’ is a positive or negative outcome of any situation that can be openly and freely shared, with one objective: to help us become better. To help us, tomorrow, step into a new version of our best self.”  

Even the best, most highly respected leaders make mistakes—or should I say, have learning moments— from time to time. Yet, they know it’s what they learn from the experience that is important. So, whenever you misfire, take the opportunity to assess what the experience has taught you. That is how you will grow into that new version of your best self—by leveraging all the newfound knowledge gained from your learning moments.

Another one of my favorite Garry Ridge quotes is found in my second book, Heartfelt Leadership:     

“I love these three words so much: I.DON’T. KNOW. I think they’re the most powerful words we can use as leaders, to say, ‘I don’t know. Tell me what you know.’ Suddenly the barriers come down. Fear goes away. Conversation happens. Dialog. Learning. Eventually we come toward a position we both then say we think we agree on….

“I want to be the dumbest guy in the room. I want to be the last one to know. Not knowing is not a reflection of your intelligence. It’s really an acknowledgement of your curiosity. There is a difference between not knowing, not admitting, and not asking. We should be asking, ‘Why is that so? Why is that like that?’”

The most knowledgeable and perceptive leaders I know are incredibly inquisitive. They are never hesitant to ask questions. They are open to new perspectives and they rarely take anything at face value. They know there is always more to every story, so they strive to uncover the full truth and assess why things are the way they are. If needed information is not readily apparent, they dig deeper.

Likewise, whenever you are given an opportunity to try something new, like taking on a new role that you know little about, accept the opportunity to give it a try and learn all you can from it.  This, too, will enable you to grow into a new version of your best self.  

Lieutenant General Kathleen Gainey (US Army, retired) shared this gem when I interviewed her for my upcoming book, Women on Top: What’s Keeping You from Executive Leadership? “Go take that job that makes you feel uncomfortable. The job you feel queasy in will be the one that will be broadening to you. It will force you out of your comfort zone. It will give you a whole different perspective.”

The bottom line is this: Never miss an opportunity to learn something new every single day, no matter what stage of life you are in. Then, at the end of each day ask yourself, “What did I learn today?”

Be sure to take stock of all your newfound knowledge and put your learnings into perspective. Never let a great lesson, or even just a little one, go to waste.

Learn.

And stay tuned to discover my next word. I can’t wait to share it with you.

I would love to hear the four words that sum up your personal leadership philosophy, too. I bet I can learn something from you.