Years ago I learned a significant leadership principle that has helped me grow tremendously as a leader.  Not only was this leadership principle significant, it was also simple: Leaders are Learners.  The moment we stop learning, we stop leading; therefore, it is essential that we become life-long effective learners if we desire to be life-long effective leaders.

I want to grow continually as a leader.  This past week I read every day on leadership and listened to several leadership podcasts.  I have been doing this for nearly 30 years.  Every week I come away with pure gold.  The principles and practices I learn help me to be a better leader.

Reading through John Maxwell’s “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” I came to “The Law of Process” and underlined this quote in the book…

“In a study of ninety top leaders from a variety of fields, leadership expert Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus made a discovery about the relationship between growth and leadership; “It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguish leaders from their followers.”  Successful leaders are learners. And the learning process is ongoing, a result of self-discipline and perseverance. The goal each day must be to get a little better, to build on the previous day’s progress.”

Simply put… leaders are learners.  Leaders never arrive and are always interested in becoming better.  Some “leaders” want to become better for themselves… but I will argue that real leaders seek to become better because they not only want to grow themselves, but they also want to help those they lead grow as well.  Leadership that is all about you is not leadership at all!  We learn so that we are better stewards of the people we have been given to lead.

If you are in leadership but you’re not doing what it takes to get better, people who are following you will either fall by the wayside or the leaders following you will begin to pass you up!

What leadership lessons have you learned recently?  What is your plan to continue to learn?  It’s true that the best leaders are learners.  This is easier when you are “starting out” on your leadership journey. I find, however, that many leaders lose that hunger after a few years.  Continuing to learn is what separates successful leaders from unsuccessful leaders.  Keep learning so that:

•      You can be your best in your current leadership role
•      You can be ready for your next opportunity
•      You can model growth for those you lead
•      Your leadership won’t wither and die.

What’s your plan to grow as a leader?  I am already planning for growth in 2019.  My plan includes:

·         Read one leadership related book per month.

·         Listen to at least one leadership lesson per week.

·         Attend at least one leadership conference or workshop.
       Teach one leadership lesson per month.

Growth requires intentionality. Take some time and develop a learning plan.