Leaders are Learners

 

 

Leaders are learners... seems logical and intuitive, yet, there are too many people in positions of leadership who really do not set learning as a specific goal or objective.  They will tell you that 'of course' they are always learning, and yet, they more or less just let learning happen without any specific intent.

Effective leaders set an agenda for themselves to learn.  Leaders are readers (we'll cover this in detail in the next posting).  Leaders are always looking for ways to learn.  Association is a key component of learning.  

 

Every American at one point or another, has been introduced to Benjamin Franklin.  The accomplishments of Franklin's life are well know: writer, businessman, entrepreneur, diplomat, scientist, patriot, founding father, and philosophical sage.  The thing that has always impressed me the most about Franklin's in his life long quest for learning and self improvement.  

 

During his printer era, Benjamin Franklin formed a 'club' of like minded fellow tradesmen that was commonly called the Leather Apron Club, also known as the Junto.  In his bestselling biography of Franklin, Walter Isaacson puts it this way:

Franklin's small club was composed of enterprising tradesmen and artisans, rather than the social elite who had their own fancier gentlemen's clubs.  At first, the members went to a local tavern for their Friday evening meetings, but soon they were able to rent a house of their own.  There they discussed issues of the day, debated philosophical topics, devised schemes for self-improvement, and formed a network for the furtherance of their own careers. (1)

 

In his autobiography, Franklin himself writes:

... I had form'd most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club of mutual improvement which we called the JUNTO; we met on Friday evenings.  The rules that I drew up required that every member, in his turn, should produce one of more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, of Natural Philosophy, to be discuss'e by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing, on any subject he pleased.  Our debates were to be under the directions of a president, and to be conducted in the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute, or desire for victory... (2)

 

Franklin's quest for learning and self improvement were unending.  Franklin went on to develop his 13 Virtues, which he would work on throughout his life.  Franklin was a leader who understood that leaders are always learning and that learning is a lifelong endeavor. 

 

 

To be truly effective, leaders MUST continue to learn.  The great leaders have a learning plan that is a designed part of their regular routine.

 

(1) Isaacson, W. 2003. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life p. 55 

(2) Franklin, B. 1996/1868 The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin p. 45 (Dover.Thrift.Editions)