Be Coachable, Teachable ‒ No One Knows Everything
Written by: Anna London, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It is important to be a life long learner. No one knows everything. I find it amusing (being facetious) that some people no matter what their life path is think that they know everything or have no desire to learn.
Case in point…
You’ve incorporated your business and now have a registered LLC, S or C-Corp and now because you are titled Founder or CoFounder and CEO or COO, you think you know everything about running and growing a business.
You are a startup founder with an idea and feel entitled to VC funding even though you have not done the research to determine if your idea is a product market fit and something people would buy. You haven’t yet even executed on the idea to show reasonable traction.
You’ve taken a few no code courses and now you think you know everything about developing an application.
You took a few courses in cyber security or know a CISO and now think you are a cyber security expert.
You watch football on TV and think you know better than the players and coach as to how to run the plays.
As a celebrity, you feel that because you have a following and a few likes, that you know everything about every topic including getting involved in politics.
As a parent, you feel that your kid can do no wrong and you know more than the teacher.
As an American, you feel you know more about every other country’s problems even though most Americans have never left the state or city where they grew up and most have never left the continental United States.
As magazine editors, you name only Americans “the most beautiful woman or man in the world” when have not even looked beyond American borders.
You’ve been hired based on your resume and a great job interview and given a title of CoFounder, Director or VP and think that your title means that you do not have to work for or continue to learn new things or certain tasks are “beneath your job title”.
When asked to perform a task, you refuse or when given constructive feedback, you respond with “I already know how to do that. You don’t need to tell me.” or “I cannot do that task, but I have contacts in my network that can perform this task” yet never live up to your words or expectations through providing that promised resource or doing the task yourself or even show the willingness to ask questions without being a “know it all.”
Continued learning and remaining coachable is key to success in leadership growth and being an example to others in your organization through leading the way. Not wanting to learn yourself or be willing to take constructive criticism in order to continue to grow holds the entire organization back because employees mimic their leaders. If you are not willing to step out of your comfort zone to continue to grow, learn and improve, then why should they? Education is the key to growth in every aspect of life, business, sports, parenting et al.
Anna London, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Anna London is an US Army Veteran, Colon Cancer Survivor, Educator, Cyber Security Expert, Entrepreneur.
