-Amanda

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other”

- John F Kennedy

You and your team should always be in a mode of continuous improvement. Be brave and curious, jump in with two feet, and learn as much as possible. Learn in your role, above your level, in an adjacent role, or in an entirely different area, but never stop. Both you and your employees should be investing in yourselves and your development.

A powerful thing you can do as a manager is model continuous learning behavior. You want to create an environment where continuous learning is the norm and not an activity reserved for junior-level employees. In addition, training outside your role is a fantastic way to gain the ability to empathize and communicate with others in a very authentic way. The connection you can make with folks by training outside your role to learn more about their work life can be pretty powerful. Walking a mile in someone else’s shoes gives you real perspective into their work life, and they will really appreciate the fact that you invested the time into learning more about their day-to-day.

When you are doing training, getting certifications, etc… Talk about it! Post on Linkedin - bring it up in staff meetings in a way that lets others know what you are up to. “I am taking this great course and it has brought up some great ideas that I would like to share”, “I am going through the certification on x, and it's a doozy!” You should not use your training activities to shame your folks into learning, you should use it as a way to get them excited about learning themselves. 

I do a lot of my training on my own time, but that is voluntary, and that should not be required. I would not even suggest that to my employees. Some people do not even have that option, so you need to be sensitive to that reality. Hopefully, you can give them time to learn during company time, whether it is Friday afternoons, dedicated days a year, an in-house training class, or outside conference. If your company does not have a time for learning, I recommend that you start advocating for it immediately.

The more the folks on your team know and are exposed to, the more creative and innovative they will be. They will have been introduced to new concepts and ideas, and they will have likely gained confidence and self-worth. These are potent ingredients added to your recipe for team success.