Wise leaders seek mentors and surround themselves with experts they can leverage as needed.
I chair multiple leadership peer groups for Vistage International. It is engaging work that I genuinely find rewarding on many levels. One of the many benefits of this experience is listening to a wide variety of subject matter experts and having a vast pool of knowledgeable colleagues to tap into. A few stand out from this exceptional crowd, including the speaker we had yesterday: Pat Murray. I have learned a tremendous amount from him about leadership and group dynamics. When you are with an expert, please ensure you listen to them attentively.
Leaders aren’t supposed to know it all, but they should be exceptional learners. There are many opportunities to learn and develop every day. Some things will come easily to you, and others will require more effort. You might be unaware of certain gaps in your knowledge. The key is to keep working at it. Learning as you go can be valuable, but it also helps to seek the best and brightest thought leaders and learn from them. As you grow your business, subject matter experts can become an invaluable resource.
We are all a work in progress, and if you are smart, you will appreciate that the work will never be finished. I’ve had many mentors and teachers who have positively influenced my life. While I tend to be a verbal person who likes to share my own opinions and experiences, I strive to be smart enough to know when to solicit input from others. Many leaders struggle to differentiate what they think they know from what they actually know. Strong opinions are expected, but relying solely on them for leadership can lead to confronting the gaps in your knowledge.
If you seek wisdom from experts who are more experienced and better informed on a topic than you, it WILL change your life for the better. You will uncover shortcuts to happiness and success. Life will seem less challenging and more manageable. You will become a better leader. An individual who has enhanced their capacity to handle whatever challenges or opportunities come their way.
Related articles
- The Discipline of Listening in the Social Media Age (customerthink.com)
- 7 Ways To Avoid Getting Stale As A Leader (capacity-building.com)
- Leaders are Learners (life-counseling.org)
- Learning To Be A CEO (Create Your Own Network) (women2.com)