learning Archives - Evergreen Leadership

Development

Are You a Student or a Learner?

As I work closely with many others in my consulting practice, I see a distinct difference between how people approach new situations. Some eagerly jump in, even though they aren’t fully prepared. Others may be willing, but they wait for clear direction, for the path to be cleared, for step by step direction before they will venture into this new territory.

As I observe these two approaches, I see a distinct difference between learners and students.

Discover what I see as the key differences between learners and students, and find out which of these two categories the world needs more of.

Accountability

Step 1: Think. Step 2: See Step 1.

I was intrigued, and then, dismayed after a pit stop in a chain gas station on a trip to North Carolina. Attached to the inside of the door of the women’s restroom was a large, laminated poster – proudly outlining the 12 steps for cleaning said restroom. At first glance, I was thrilled that the establishment took this so seriously, as I really like clean public restrooms. However, a deeper look, gave me a touch of disbelief first and then a reminder of my despair about our education system.

Dynamics

Learned Incompetence

How many times are good intentions for support and help internalized by the recipient as proof of personal inability? How often is it easier to rely on someone else for something well within our grasp? How can we enable rather than disable those we seek to help? Where in my life am I relying on someone else’s help rather than stretching and becoming independent?

I don’t have many answers – but am struck that these are questions our schools, government and social services organizations would be well served to study and master. I’m interested – what do you think?

Change

The way you were taught to learn may not work anymore

Make no doubt about it – the need to learn new things and learn them quickly has never been greater. As of a year ago, close to 90% of the North American population was connected to the internet. Globally the number is 40%. Growing at a pace of 676% – it will not be long until most of the world is able to connect, communicate, create, collaborate and innovate. Add to that the increase in computing power (doubling every 18 months), the ability to transmit that data faster and faster (doubling every 9 months) and a dramatic decline in the cost to store massive data – we are experiencing more information, more innovation, more new knowledge and more diversity than imaginable – even 10 years ago.

Yet, it is compelling to note that class valedictorians and acing the SAT are not indicators of successful learners in today’s business world. I’ll talk about what are.

Dynamics

5 Clues to Identifying Your Strengths

Over the weekend I temporarily moved the contents of my office in order to paint the walls. Even I was amazed at what got pulled from the space. I’ve included a photo of SOME of the books that I extricated – and that photo does not include books in my family room, on my night stand, or tucked in various other places in my home.

I had to chuckle, as this was such a visible reminder of one of my strengths – which is input. So why is knowing your strengths important, and how can you identify yours? Read on to find out.

Evergreen Leadership

Evergreen Circle: Shape the Future

If you are someone who:

Wants to make a positive change in their professional life
Is starting or growing a business
Is making a career change
Are wanting to have a meaningful retirement and/or second career
Wants to realize their full professional potential – in their current job or a new on

You will want to read more.

Leadership

Top Ten Books for Entrepreneurs

I tell students in my entrepreneurship courses at Purdue that leaders read. However, the nature of the entrepreneurial process makes it tough to recommend good reads. Those searching for a good idea need something different than those who have found one and are in high growth. Meanwhile, some have built a company only to find themselves stuck with an “ugly baby”. As such, I’ll clearly identify by stage-of-the-entrepreneurial-process what the book is best suited for.

And after reading my list I”ll be curious to know – what books guide and inspire you?

912 Days Later

I started in January of 2011 to crystallize what people who were successful in today’s unprecedented environment were doing. I tapped into my experience consulting with lots of leaders across many industries. I reflected on my own life and what worked and what didn’t.

And I started writing – and writing – and writing. And then editing and honing and testing.

And the result is the Evergreen Leadership Library, a set of 10 eBooks that are available here.

And if you are seeking to effect positive change – at work or home, personally or professionally, they might be for you.

Evergreen Leadership

Evergreen Leadership Women’s Circle

Ignore this post unless:

You are a women leader or entrepreneur and you live in Central Indiana and you would like to:

Challenge you to be your best – and to challenge others to do the same
Create enduring, profound professional relationships
Learn, reflect, and plan – so that you accelerate growth and progress
Get and give candid & straightforward feedback
Have a safe place to tackle your toughest challenges
Surpass what you thought was possible & to help others do the same

Change

What I Take for Granted

Returning to the US after 2 weeks in Southern India gave me fresh eyes – both for what I take for granted and for what is missing from my life in the US. Read on for my list… including the one that made my “take for granted” list 4 times.

Evergreen Leadership Blog