Why does continuous learning help you become an excellent manager?

Have you learned anything new recently? is something I always ask in most of my interviews with senior managers. If a candidate can't show anything they've learned in the last month, I know they're not a long-term fit because they don't have the eagerness to explore new things while constantly learning is vital factor for a manager's success.

The reason good managers always keep learning

Many people think that managers' schedules are packed, they are busy enough, why make things more burdensome by constantly learning? Because it is necessary to develop, to stay ahead, to be ready for advancement and to help them become the best managers they can be.

Life itself is a life-long learning experience and the modern business world is changing at a breakneck pace. Many people even joked that just stopping for a meal made them feel like they were back in the Stone Age. Harsh but true. There are many lessons learned from last year that are now "lost" in the present. If managers do not continuously update changes and new trends, in the blink of an eye, managers will fall behind. What is worth mentioning is that not only are they themselves affected, but the company is also standing still, at risk of being "smoked" by competitors.

Along with staying up to date, being eager to learn can help managers improve their current skills to drive more effective business operations. As they continually learn and nurture their minds and spirits, they will discover new ways for their businesses and services to grow into something truly different.

Once you have proven your ability, why are you afraid of not receiving respect from your employees? They even set an example for employees to follow. Laughter is contagious and learning is no different. If employees see how rewarding learning new skills is, they'll want to try it too. Soon, they will ask to take a course or attend a conference. And soon, the business will have a strong and capable human resources team.

The Art And Science Of Leadership

But how to effectively maintain learning in a management role?

The answer is to always be curious about everything. One manager who exemplifies the power of curiosity is Brain Grazer, who is responsible for dozens of hit Hollywood shows and movies. Early in his career, he made it a goal to have at least one conversation a week with someone about a topic or industry he knew nothing about. In this way, he not only expanded his mind but also built many good relationships.

Elon Musk is also known for his insatiable curiosity and constant learning. He is known to be widely read on a wide range of topics, from physics and engineering to biography and science fiction. This thirst for knowledge helped him found innovative companies like Tesla and SpaceX – companies that continuously pushed the boundaries of technology.

If you can't do it like Brain Grazer or Elon Musk, that's okay. Becoming a continuous learner can be as simple as reading a book, article or blog post once a week or hearing about a seminar while having lunch… Whatever you do, just remember that there is much to learn and explore. This will help us stay motivated in our ongoing learning journey, while also cultivating excitement about the world around us.

One of the other ways I consider the best way to learn is to teach others. It may sound counterintuitive, but when we teach someone else to do something, we force ourselves to be clear and this helps us dig deeper into the problem.

Becoming the Leader I Aspired to Be

Furthermore, some managers are “unconsciously competent,” meaning they do things naturally, out of habit, or because it feels right. Teaching others makes us rethink what we are doing and make adjustments for the better. Thanks to that, we also increase our self-worth. It's hard to teach someone to do better, when we ourselves aren't held to such high standards.

If you want to continuously learn, connect with different people, starting from building a diverse team (if you have the power to make hiring decisions) to relationships in life.

If you only spend time with people who have similar interests and experiences, you will never learn more than you already know. Learning begins with a challenge to think differently than you have before and see things in a new way. That happens most easily when you're surrounded by people with diverse personalities, interests, and cultures.

If you want to lead people, try to become a strong manager. And if you want to become a strong manager, make learning a priority. The more you constantly learn , the more mature and mature you will be in terms of abilities and skills, the more you will help yourself, your team and the business in the long run.