Never stop learning (to be a better manager and better person)

Are you looking to feel alive, really alive, and wondering how to do it? Are you looking to be a leader in your field, and wondering how to do it? Are you wondering what these two questions have in common?

I’m here to say, to stay alive, and to be a leader in your field, the key element is learning, and re-learning, as much and as often as you can.

When my grandmother was alive, I used to go over to the senior living community where she lived, and I was continually amazed at how alive the people there seemed, especially for being so old. And I was also amazed at how some of the oldest looking people were actually some of the youngest people in the building. Their secret? They kept learning new things, new games, new hobbies, and kept meeting new people, and this kept them young. The ones that stayed in their rooms and didn’t socialize,  or didn’t try new things, got older faster than the ones who were actively learning new things.

Think fast:

Open up your Outlook contacts, your LinkedIn profile, your Facebook page, your Twitter feed, or where ever you keep a list of your contacts. “Who immediately jumps off the page and screams YES! I want to invest my time, energy , and talents in YOU!”

Do you want to be managed by or work with the person who hasn’t picked up a book since high school?

Or would you rather invest your time the person who is continually reading and writing new articles, who’s learning new hobbies, who’s sharing what they know with you and encouraging you to learn more? Unless you’re one of those people who are annoyed by people who know more than you do, I’ll bet you enjoy the company of the person with the new ideas, the one that’s full of life, energy and knowledge.

What does all of this have to do with leading and leadership?

In a word – EVERYTHING!

If you’re a leader, and you’re not staying ahead of the times by learning new things in new ways, you’re soon to be an extinct leader. And if you’re extinct, you’re dead. In order to live, you must learn, and in order to lead, you must learn. So live…learn…lead!

Never stop learning!

Image source: modified from the Tombstone Generator

Post from: EveryJoe

Never Stop Learning: Commandment 1

5 Ways to Be There For Your Team

1) Single task your direct reports

2) Manage by walking around

3) Open your door to your team

4) Open your heart to your team

5) Listen, I mean really LISTEN, to what your direct reports are saying

Dad's the Boss - Image: Flickr

What can you do to BE THERE for your team?

Listen to the music photo credit to vagawi

Post from: EveryJoe

5 Ways to Be There: Friday Fish Philosophy

In the series, I’m going to ask a question about the things troubling managers today, and then provide the answers you share, as well as my thought. Think of it as straight talk for tough times.

Help Wanted - Image: Flickr

There are several ways you can contribute.

1) Answer the question – I’m asking questions, I need your help to answer them. I’ll be a contributor too, and I’ll share all answers back, with credit and a link back.

2) Ask someone else you know – Send the question out to YOUR network. Share your findings in the comments, or by leaving a link in the comments to an article you wrote on your site.

3) Ask a question – Is there something burning in your mind? Ask the question on this post, or by sending me an e-mail with your question.

I’ll post the first question soon. In the meantime, leave YOUR burning question in the comments section.

Help Wanted photo credit to sekimura

Post from: EveryJoe

Help Wanted: Yours