Learning Leadership

Chapter 5Learning Is the Master Skill

We have a question for you. Have you ever learned a new game or a new sport?

Undoubtedly, your answer is yes. We get that ­response every time we ask the question in our classes or leadership development programs. Invariably every hand in the room goes up.

We then ask, “And how many of you got it perfect the first day you played it?” People chuckle. No hands go up. No one ever gets it right the first time.

There was one occasion, however, when Urban Hilger, Jr. raised his hand and said that on the very first day he went skiing he got it perfect. Naturally we were surprised and curious, so we asked Urban to tell us about the experience. Here's what he said:

It was the first day of skiing classes. I skied all day long, and I didn't fall down once. I was so elated. I felt so good. So I skied up to the instructor, and I told him of my great day. You know what the ski instructor said? He told me, “Personally, Urban, I think you had a lousy day.”

I was stunned. “What do you mean lousy day? I thought the objective was to stand up on these boards, not fall down.”

The ski instructor looked me straight in the eyes and replied, “Urban, if you're not falling, you're not learning.”

Urban's ski instructor understood that if you can stand up on your skis all day long the first time out, you're only doing what you already know how to do and not pushing yourself to try anything new and difficult. By definition learning is about something you don't already ...