The Importance of Being Teachable
One of the most important aspects of being a servant leader is being teachable and coachable. Effective leaders are humble, self-aware and willing to learn from others, no matter their age or position. I have been blessed with a very inquisitive mind, and I still cherish learning from others. I learned long ago in my career, that I do not have all the answers!
At its core, being teachable is simply admitting that you have more to learn. Over the course of my career, I’ve seen time and again that humility demonstrates a stronger character than ego or pride does. We certainly saw this in the example of Jesus Christ and the Bible speaks often of humility.
Admitting that you don’t know everything doesn’t detract from who you are or your leadership authority. Rather, it demonstrates to others within your organization that it’s safe to admit you don’t know everything. Too many leaders feel the need to look like they know it all, and that’s dangerous.
We often have a false belief built into us through our upbringing that says, “I must have the answer; not knowing the answer is not good enough.” We carry that belief into our adult life, never letting anyone see us sweat, pretending that we have all the answers. As a leader, this has the potential to create an office climate where no one is willing to ask questions for fear of revealing that they don’t understand something or lack experience in a particular area. And when people are afraid to ask for help, disaster is just around the corner.
Creating an atmosphere where people know to ask questions if they are asked to proceed on a task with which they are unfamiliar will help avoid many a disaster, and create a culture of trust, comradery, learning, and improvement. I have much appreciation for the people who mentored and coached me throughout my career, and I have received much joy from helping others progress in their careers.
Over the years, I’ve developed a comfort level with using the phrase, “That is a great question--I don’t know. Let’s find the answer!” It’s liberating and I encourage you to try it! Admitting you don’t have the answer doesn’t mean you aren’t prepared to work to obtain it, and it doesn’t rob you of your credibility as a leader. It’s an opportunity to learn and grow.
We need to move from the false belief that we’re expected to be all-knowing just because we’ve been promoted. Rather, let’s adopt a humble attitude that looks like this:
“I’m always learning, and I don’t have all the answers.”
“I love other people’s ideas.”
“I don’t know the answer, but I look forward to exploring this topic and learning more about it.”
“Other people’s perspectives and experiences can give me a deeper understanding of things.”
Leaders should always ask for feedback and receive it with an open mind. Someone who is teachable looks at other viewpoints and understanding of things as valuable opportunities to grow, rather than a threat of being wrong. The Bible offers many reminders of the need to have a teachable spirit. Here are a few to meditate on this week:
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future” (Proverbs 19:20).
“A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction” (Ecclesiastes 4:13).
“Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored” (Proverbs 13:18).
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