Whole Leaders, Wild Trust

CHAPTER 11Learning: Enter the Leadership Laboratory

A whole and trusted leader continues to edit themselves, learn, and grow over the long haul.

We all have gaps. Gaps in our ability to get things done. Gaps in our character that cause us to double down even when we know we’re in the wrong. And gaps in our competence that still need to be filled. But these gaps aren’t our biggest barrier to becoming trustworthy. The greatest barrier is our incapacity to learn.

At the core of learning is editability—a willingness to change and to press the backspace key, even on parts of our character. Editing is hard. Whether it’s someone asking us to change the way we think, adjust how we work, or revise something we’ve created, it confronts us with the possibility that we could do better. And that’s uncomfortable. But here’s the truth. It’s nearly impossible to build a trusting relationship with someone who won’t learn. If we were perfect all the time, learning would just be a nice bonus. But we’re not. And because of that, learning—especially when it’s difficult—is essential.

Real learning is messy. It’s disruptive. It increases our capacity to change more quickly and intentionally while staying grounded in who we are. And it’s powered by one essential source: experience.

Learning from Experience

A huge portion of your growth is happening in real time—right now—in experiences you’ve likely never had before and that sit outside your comfort zone. The more challenging the experience, the ...