Great Leaders Embrace Challenges to Learn - Here Is How

In the early 2000s, in the heartland of Kenya, a young javelin thrower named Julius Yego was making his mark. With no means to afford formal training, Yego took an unorthodox approach - he turned YouTube into his personal coach. He spent hours studying videos of accomplished athletes, relentlessly practicing their techniques. Each obstacle he encountered, he saw not as a setback, but as a stepping stone to mastery. His innovative approach to learning led him to the zenith of success - the world championship. This is the extraordinary tale of how Julius Yego, armed with a growth mindset & determination, anchored in purpose, defied the odds to become a champion. I am ever inspired by his example.

In learning, much like Yego, one must:

🎭 Embrace Failure as a Learning Tool: Yego understood that each failed throw was a chance to adjust and improve, echoing Edison's sentiment: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

👥 Seek Coaching: While many people seek criticism (feedback) and/or affirmation, successful learners seek coaching! As Adam Grant says “A critic sees your weaknesses and attacks your worst self. A cheerleader sees only your strengths and praises them. A coach sees your potential and helps you become a better version of yourself."

🧗 Learn by Doing: Yego practiced relentlessly, understanding that active engagement accelerates learning far more than passive consumption of information.

✍️ Study Your Heroes’ Habits: Yego studied his favorite athletes, not focusing on their accolades, but on their techniques, habits, and mindset.

🔬 Experiment with Learning Tools: Yego chose a non-traditional tool, YouTube, to learn, proving that different skills require different learning approaches.

☝️Curiosity over judgment and ego: next time someone disagrees with you, before you start defending your point, ask them how they came to that conclusion. This way you will start building a habit of curiosity that will enable you to ask more and better questions in all situations and learn faster.

Common misconceptions about learning

Rereading and Highlighting are Effective Study Methods:

Research suggests that these methods are less effective compared to others like self-testing or distributed practice (spreading out study sessions over time).

People have different learning styles:

Research suggests that we all learn similarly, but different skills require different learning styles. Example: If you want to learn history, reading is the best strategy together with visualization. To learn leadership though, observation and action are the best approaches.

More Hours of Study Equals More Learning:

Although it's common to associate more study hours with better learning, studies suggest that the quality of study— involving focused attention, engagement with material, and effective techniques— is more crucial.

Best ways to learn leadership

👀 Observation - Observe the people you admire. Pay attention to how they talk, behave, the kind of questions they ask, and their habits.

🚀 Action - Then, try it out for yourself! You won't know how something works or if it's suitable for you until you try it. Yes, you might struggle at the beginning. It might feel awkward, and you'll make mistakes, often feeling uncomfortable. That's what learning leadership feels like!

🪞Reflection - Whether you did great or not, reflection is crucial. It helps you understand what went well so you can repeat it, and what needs improvement or replacement. Always ask for advice on what you can improve.

Remember, learning is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the process and continually strive for improvement.

Nikola