What does it take to REALLY lead?- Part 1- L for Learn

My life has been profoundly challenged since I read ‘The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth’ by John Maxwell. Every law seemed to build upon each other. However for me one of the particular laws seemed to hold everything together. It was the law of intentionality. If we only dream about our plans to grow and make some great changes in our lives, but fail to do anything about it – guess what nothing really changes. However if we are intentional and have a plan to keep focussed at growing, we will see the growth we dream about taking place.

Over many years I have also researched a number of people who lead at different levels, maybe in a church or business setting. What I noticed, some of them had the following qualities which have made them to be very effective.
As I reveal these over the coming weeks, in order to make them memorable, I designed an acrostic for each letter of the word ‘LEAD’.
So together let us look at the first one.
L – Learn
I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught – Sir Winston Churchill.

Keep learning. This might seem an odd place to start initially, surely if you are to lead, you know everything there is to know?……or so you think.
However this is far from the truth. If you are to edify others, you must learn to edify yourself. If you want others to learn from you, you must be constantly learning yourself.

It is dangerous to take your ‘L’ plates off when it comes to learning. When we think we don’t need to learn anymore, this is when we become ineffective in leading others.
It is interesting to note that, if you as a leader reach for your potential, often those around you will be encouraged to do the same.
Musician Bruce Springsteen commented ‘A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being that man you want to be’

If you are in business or church leadership, you will appreciate having a strategy to learn, will empower you to develop those around you. Constant learning has huge benefits, it keeps you motivated and focussed on possibilities and how to grow a business and team.

I personally find that in a world that is advancing so quickly with technology and social media, it is vital to literally ‘keep up with the times’.

Learning can cover every aspect of life. It could be learning more about:
– Reading the bible
– Praying
– Stepping out in faith
– Personal growth
– Leading through troubled waters
– Building teams
– Strategies for growth
– How to increase profits
– How to train leaders
– How to raise leaders
– How to grow a company
– How to use social media
This list could go on. What would you add to this list?

If I could give you a DVD and say the following to you:
‘On this DVD is what you could be like in 3 years time, if you were REALLY committed to growing yourself, in becoming even more effective than you are now to those around you or the team that you lead.

Now, tell me – What would you like to see on this DVD and how would it affect your life and those around you?’

Being intentional in your learning is a key to growing. Do this and your life will have a huge positive impact on many people.

Feel free to pass this blog on to a friend. Your comments and feedback would be greatly appreciated. Keep an eye out for my next blog in this series, where I will focus on the letter E.

About the Author

Tony Lynch is a Featured writer for the John Maxwell team blog. 

He is a leader who excels at delivering vision and strategy to his clients for success.

With an abundance of experience, Tony creates ‘winning mind-sets’ for individuals and companies wanting to achieve greatness.

You too can benefit from the his insights and abilities by contacting Tony at http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/tonylynch/