While one of the easiest ways to learn is from reading great books, there’s an even better way to grow your leadership skills. What is it? It’s by learning from others, learning from other leaders.
To learn from others, you have to be intentional. You have to have a plan. And you have to act.
You can’t be timid or tiptoe around them. You have to be bold, brave, and take action.
So, how do you learn from others? Here are five ways you can grow your leadership skills by learning from others.
5 Ways To Learn From Others
Ask questions:
Have you ever come across someone who knows more than you? We all have. If we haven’t, we’re not in the right rooms. However, we can’t be shy when we’re around these people.
Look for the smartest person in the room. Walk up to them. Then ask them questions that pertain to their skills.
The more questions you ask, the more answers you will get. As long as they’re open to sharing their wisdom.
When you ask questions, you’ll learn from others.
Admit what you don’t know:
If you know you’re not the smartest person in the room, there’s nothing wrong with admitting that you don’t know everything. Even if you are the smartest person in the room, it’s still okay to admit you don’t know everything.
How does this help you learn? How does this help you grow? Admitting what you don’t know lets others know where you need help. When you tell Bob or Susan you don’t know how to manage a problematic coworker, they can chime in with their advice and life experiences. They can tell you how they’ve handled it in the past and give you the tools to do so in the present.
When you admit what you don’t know, you’re giving people the chance to share what they know. Be willing to grow by admitting what you don’t know.
Watch others:
Want to grow quickly? Watch others do what they do well. Especially if you want to be able to do what they’re doing.
The more you watch experts in their craft, the more you’ll learn. A great tool for this is MasterClass. They’ve gathered experts in writing, leadership, and more to give you the tools and resources to grow yourself.
When you watch others, you pick up on what they’re doing well. You can also see what they’re not doing well.
Watching others will help you grow.
Create introductions:
Creating introductions to others may seem an odd way to grow, but it’s a perfect way to grow and learn. Why? Because as you introduce others to each other, you’re going to be introduced to new people. These new people will have skills and talents you desire.
Learn from them!
Make the connection and then grow your connections. The more people you connect, the more people will be in your circle. The more people you’ll be able to learn from.
Be pliable:
Being pliable means that you’re flexible, you’re easily willing to change. You can learn from others if you’re not pliable.
Let go of the rigidity you’ve held onto so long. Get rid of those pre-conceived ideas. Instead, embrace being pliable.
The more flexible you are to those around you, the more you’re going to pick up and learn. You’re going to find yourself bending yourself to new skills and talents.
Pliability leads to growth.
