How to be a lifelong learner

Greg Leith July 30, 2018

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I’ve been thinking about learning… the lifelong kind. The kind that says, “I’m not too old to learn something new.” The kind that says, “I should listen when people want to tune me up a bit because I have a blind spot.” The sage who wrote Proverbs in the Bible tells us that if we teach people who are already wise, they will be wiser still. “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still” (Proverbs 9:9). Don’t you want to be that guy?!

Consider this

Leaders are lifelong learners. Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, an insurance executive and author, once said there were only two things that change you, the people you meet and the books you read. What are you reading and who have you listened to that has broken up one of your paradigms of previously held beliefs?

In his book, Outlearning the Wolves: Surviving and Thriving in a Learning Organization, David Hutchins weaves a tale about a flock of sheep who outsmart a pack of wolves instead of giving up. It reminds us to keep learning or we may become victims.

Real learning happens over time, in community. As leaders, we must create a strong learning environment via multiple pathways. Does your company have a continuous learning model built in? How do your team members learn new skills or hear about new ideas?

Company leaders can be the primary spiritual leaders/teachers of their group.As leaders, we’re called to be teachers and coaches, always introducing learning to those God entrusts to our care. Who are you teaching? Who is teaching you?

I have learned a lot from Pastor Matt Canlis in Wenatchee, Washington. He tells me I should live my life at a pace that God sets. He calls it living life at “GodSpeed.” 

I’m glad I met Pastor Matt. He works as a pastor in a parish. I work as a leader in a business. That said, God wants us both to do the same thing—love people. 

I’ve discovered you can’t love people too deeply if you don’t know them. Now, I’ve given you a taste of my learning journey; may yours be equally invigorating. 

Photo source: istock 

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Greg's life mission statement focuses on his life passion, which is “to strengthen the great leaders, ideas and organizations of our time so the kingdom causes of Christ can be exponentially accelerated.” He is the CEO of Convene, which helps hundreds of Christian CEO’s meet regularly in small groups to live out their faith intentionally as they combine their love for business with the love for biblical truth. This article was first published on convenenow.com. Used with permission. Learn More »

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