Quote-A-Day: Day 196

Is it any wonder that #lead and #learn both start with the same three letters? #QuoteADay #Day196 #LearnToLead #LeadToLearn #edchat #edu

I'm not a big conspiracy theorist, but I do find it interesting that both lead and learn are almost exactly the same words.  Both start with "lea," and in the case of "lead," seventy-five percent of the word is exactly the same as "learn."

It's no wonder than that the best leaders also consider themselves learners, and the deepest learners also tend to make the best leaders.

So, how do we make sure that we keep the connection between "leader" and "learner" alive and well in each of us?

First, make sure that you understand that regardless of whether you are a leader or learner in professional and personal ways, when it comes to life, you need to be both.  This means that leaders need to actively seek opportunities to learn something new, and those who spend most of their time not taking the lead need to pick up the reins from time-to-time and lead on.

Second, regardless of how you see yourself, everyone needs to take time to reflect.  If we are to become better at leading and learning, then we need to make sure that we take the time to think back on the leading and learning we've done so far, and what we need to do differently.

Finally, we have to always remind ourselves that the practices of leading and learning are not two ends of a spectrum or even two sides of the same coin.  Rather, they are like a canister of Play-Doh, literally the same thing just molded in slightly different ways, always ready to go back to the way it was previously and be molded again.