Being teachable is critical for any role in life. Whether you’re a leader, an up-and-coming leader, or a frontline employee, being teachable will help you move forward.
That being said, many people today think they’re teachable. They say all the right things, dress the right way, and appear to do everything right.
However, they fall short in the teachability department.
Photo by Tachina Lee on Unsplash
Great leaders recognize that they must possess a growth mindset. They’re always looking for new ideas, new ways of doing things, and areas for improvement.
That’s why you have to be teachable. It helps you to grow.
10 Questions To Find Out If You’re Teachable
In his book Talent Is Never Enough, John C. Maxwell shares 10 questions to ask yourself. These questions focus on whether or not you’re teachable. I thought they were fantastic and something we could all use to grow.
Read these questions and answer them truthfully. They’ll help you identify areas that need improvement, areas where you excel, and those that require just a little more attention.
- Am I open to other people’s ideas?
- Do I listen more than I talk?
- Am I open to changing my opinion based on new information?
- Do I readily admit when I am wrong?
- Do I observe before acting on a situation?
- Do I ask questions?
- Am I willing to ask a question that will expose my ignorance?
- Am I open to doing things in a way that I haven’t done before?
- Am I willing to ask for directions?
- Do I act defensive when criticized, or do I listen openly for the truth?
Become Teachable
If you find yourself answering these questions with a big, fat no, it’s time to change your ways. You have to be willing to look inward. To see what’s causing you to fear those teachable moments that will help you to grow.
What can you do to become more teachable? Try the following:
- Consider the ideas of other people. When you hear a new idea, don’t dismiss it outright. Instead, mull it over. What are its merits? How could it be beneficial?
- Be quiet. We’ve been given two ears and one mouth. It’s beneficial for us to listen, to hear from others more than it is for them to hear us talking. Listen to those around you to hear new ideas and insights.
- Look at your opinions. Is there something that needs to change? Has new information been released? How could you change a long-held opinion and grow?
- When’s the last time you said you were wrong? When’s the last time you apologized? You become teachable when you realize you’ve made a mistake. Be willing to admit you’re wrong.
- Observe the situations you’re over. Try to gather as much information as possible before taking action. Sure, there are times when you must act without observing, but more often than not, you can take the time to assess the situation.
- Ask great questions. The more you ask, the more you can learn and grow.
- Be willing to look foolish. You don’t have all the answers. Sometimes, you will have to ask a question that makes you look foolish. Relish in it. You won’t look foolish or ignorant for long as you learn.
- We get stuck in routines. We drive the same way to work, listen to the same radio station, and do our hair the same way. What if you were willing to change your drive or switch to a different radio station? You might discover a new store, a new voice, or see something you’ve never seen before.
- It’s hard to ask for directions when you’re in a leadership position. However, you cannot know the answer or way to do everything. It’s okay to ask for directions. You’ll learn from someone else and they have a chance to grow their teaching skills.
- It’s easy to get defensive when confronted or criticized. Instead of becoming defensive, ask yourself why you’re in this position and what you can learn from it. You may discover a personal growth opportunity that’s appeared before you.
