PERSPECTIVE: REFLECTIONS OF INDUSTRY LEADERS
THE LEADER
WHO LEARNS
By asking yourself some simple questions you’ll find the direction
you need to grow your leadership skills and empower others to do
the same, says industry leader Steve Pettit.
n any given day it can be difficult
to prioritise the really important
things in life. We get ‘busy’ and
use that as a force field that can blind us to
other opportunities. After a long day or a
full-on week, the last thing we might feel like
doing is learning. However, I haven’t met
many people that regret having made the
time to grow themselves and their
leadership skills.
Learning can come from many different
sources, such as the books we read, the
courses we do, the experiences we reflect on
and the conversations we have. Irrespective
of a lesson’s origin, though, its foundation
has to come from a desire to grow.
O
The right questions
‘Leadership and learning are indispensable
to each other’ – John F Kennedy
Think of the great leaders you’ve
encountered and then consider their
common traits. Towards the top of the list
you’ll likely note that they were great at
listening and invested in the development of
others and of themselves. As you progress
along your leadership journey, reflect on
your own growth so that you can assist the
growth of others.
Stephen Covey’s second habit of highly
effective people is to ‘begin with the end
in mind’. When considering any form of
learning I’d recommend asking yourself the
following four questions:
1 Will this learning assist me to reach my
goals? (if you’re not sure what your goals
are, figure those out first!)
2
3
Does it interest me?
Am I learning for myself (and not
somebody else)?
4
Do I have the necessary support to
complete what it is I set out to do?
As you consider your next course, certificate
or qualification, these questions will help
direct your decision. If you’ve identified a
great learning opportunity and the answer to
the above four questions is yes, then you’re
onto a good thing!
Find the lesson
‘When the going gets tough, the tough get
going’ – Joseph P Kennedy
The time of greatest learning is when the
going gets tough – the time that requires the
greatest level of discipline, tenacity, honesty
and professionalism. Think back to a time
in your career when you’ve been the most
stressed, anxious, overworked or out of your
depth, and consider what you learnt from
that experience.
If you’re a glass half empty kind of person
you’ll only see the pain of the moment and
you’ll look for excuses to explain why things
aren’t going your way. If you’re a glass half
full kind of person, you’ll recognise that
you’re going through a difficult time and
you’ll reflect on the experience to learn
the lessons that will put you in a stronger
position when you face a similar situation.
In tough times ahead, make sure you
ask yourself the question ‘How has this
experience helped me to grow?’. As soon as
you begin to answer this question you’ll be a
glass half full kind of person.
The power of a mentor
‘When the student is ready the teacher will
appear’ – attributed to Buddah and others
The thing about opinions is that everyone
has one: you need to surround yourself with
people that have your best interests at heart
and in whose opinion you trust.
Look for mentors that have in some way
achieved what you would like to achieve, as
they will be more likely to offer you pertinent
advice and have your growth – not their
own ego – as their number one priority.
Always be open to a mentor disagreeing
with you or challenging you, because it
will motivate you to look at an issue from a
different perspective. A great mentor won’t
necessarily give you the answer, they’ll be
an expert at asking questions to assist you
to make the right decision. As you consider
your next learning opportunity, chat with a
trusted mentor to confirm that it’s in your
best interests.
Ask yourself the question ‘What’s the
next step in my learning journey?’, and when
you’ve figured out the answer, make it a
priority and get on with it!
Steve Pettit BPhEd, BCom, MBA, GAICD enjoys
disrupting the traditional view of leadership and
paving the way for both emerging and established
leaders to think differently about their success
and the success of those they lead. He has worked
with some of the world’s leading fitness providers,
including Les Mills Asia Pacific, and is now the
Group Managing Director of Australian Fitness
Network and Australian Institute of Fitness.
NETWORK WINTER 2018 | 7