You do it for others. How do you do it for yourself?
How should leaders uplevel themselves?
A common lament among leaders we've met is that they are often 'the sharpest tool in the box'. While they mentor, shape, and challenge their teams, they find themselves in rarefied air. So how do they raise the bar for themselves?
The good news is that such leaders are able to take charge of their situation. Here's what they typically try out:
Advanced Management Programs: Leadership development programs conducted by business schools and consultancies give them dedicated blocks for serious learning. These are also high on networking and status signalling. But it's difficult for leaders to switch off and immerse themselves entirely in these programs. Another criticism: some of these programs are too theoretical and sometimes even out-dated.
Learn from peers: Personal networks, friends, talks at trade bodies remain great ways to learn from peers. Done well, social media can unearth great learning resources. (We got some of this feedback via Twitter!)
Online learning and forums: In addition to MOOCs and TED Talks, there has been an emergence of exclusive online communities and Slack channels for leaders.
Reading: This remains a superpower for leaders, giving them leverage over time. Plus, fits in with travel and downtime. (Which explains why our Reading Compounds are particularly popular with leaders looking for a peer group that's into reading.)
Mentors and Coaches: The good old one-on-one. Such engagements work best when there is mutual respect, trust and both know what they are doing! Tread with caution.
Personal Projects: An under-rated option. Not too many are doing this. Nothing beats the amount of learning you'll get out of a personal project. Mark Zuckerberg has pioneered these kinds of annual learning projects.
One suggestion we received on Twitter: first, do an inventory of your blind spots and then go about finding the best learning option that helps you address it. Being deliberate about your learning is half the job done.
Related reading: our smartletter on blind spots.