Readers are (not the only) Leaders 📚

What if the best way to grow wasn’t about what you learn, but how you learn?

You've probably heard the saying, "Leaders are readers." I'm not saying that isn't true, but I often have wondered if that is the whole truth. I also understand that to absorb this newsletter, you are reading. I know, but still.... stick with me!

The saying is catchy, and although there are truths in it, I still believe there is more to the original idea. Here is what I mean:

Weekly, I have the opportunity to sit across the table (and a whiteboard) with CEOs, Owners, Senior Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Founders, and beyond. I don't say this to boast, but rather to set the stage for the types of people I think you would define as leaders, and also successful in some way for their organization. Let me tell you a little secret:

Readers aren't the only leaders.

One of the first things I like to help clients grasp is their learning style, because we aren't all the same, and it may very well be the thing that propels or hinders a career. The majority of these leaders would say that reading has not been their primary method of learning, which raises another question about learning and leadership: How do you learn best?

If you're someone who struggles to finish a book, feels bored halfway through a podcast, or zones out in a lecture-style setting, it doesn't simply mean you're lazy or unmotivated. It might simply mean you haven't yet found your learning style, and my hope for this week's newsletter is that you might take steps in the right direction and begin your journey of becoming a "life-long learner."

Your brain is wired a certain way; you should pay attention to it.

Somewhere between elementary school and adulthood, we were told that learning meant sitting still, taking notes, and absorbing information quietly. However, in the real world, and especially in leadership and business, growth often stems from taking action, fostering connections, reflecting on experiences, and repeating successful behaviors.

This is where learning styles come in. The goal isn't to box yourself into a category, but rather to become more aware of what helps you grow and stop trying to force yourself into a mold that doesn't fit. Let's begin with a brief overview of the various types of learning styles.

So, what are the main learning styles?

Here's a quick rundown:

• Visual Learners: You learn through seeing. Diagrams, charts, color-coded notes, videos, and whiteboards are your jam. If you think in pictures or remember where something was written on a page, then you're likely a visual learner. (this is me btw.)

• Auditory Learners: You process through hearing. Podcasts, discussions, teaching, and even reading aloud can help you take in information. You might retain more from a conversation than from reading a page of text.

• Reading/Writing Learners: You process through reading. This is the classic learner—books, articles, journaling, taking and re-writing notes. If you're always writing things down to understand them, this may be you.

• Kinesthetic Learners: You learn by doing. Hands-on practice, building, movement, and physical experience help things stick. You probably can't sit still for too long and prefer action over theory. (this is also me btw)

• Social Learners: You grow best through talking or conversations. Processing ideas in group settings, collaborating, or discussing them with a mentor helps you make sense of new information. (This is probably #3 for me.)

• Solitary Learners: You thrive in spaces that allow for reflection. Solo study, personal journaling, or deep thinking will enable you to internalize what you're learning. You don't need a crowd to grow.

Start with curiosity. Here is a simple exercise for you to engage with:

• Reflect: When was the last time you got something? Like the first time, a complex idea made sense. What were you doing? What helped it click?

  • For me, it was the Bible Project Videos by Tim Mackie. They are on YouTube and are so excellent. Watching the videos gave me a deeper understanding of concepts and overviews that I don't think I would have grasped from simply reading or someone teaching. It helped me fall in love with the Word of God because it began to make sense.

• Experiment this week. Swap a book for a podcast. Watch a video instead of taking notes. Try learning by doing.

• Ask a mentor or coworker: "How do you process new ideas?" You might discover something that helps you, too.

• Take a free learning style quiz: Just Google it. They're not perfect, but they can help you identify some patterns.

The leaders who go the distance, or are life-long learners, aren't just the ones who read the most, but are the ones who have found their learning style. They are the ones aware enough of themselves and have learned how they learn to learn. They're the ones who know how they grow, and they build their life and rhythm around it.

Please don't hear me say reading is negative in this. I think it is a good habit and/or discipline to practice, but there are other ways to intake information for the long haul.

So....

• If books inspire you, read them.

• If podcasts fuel you, press play & listen.

• If you learn by doing, get your dang hands dirty.

• If videos help create simplicity from the complex, watch them.

• If quiet reflection sharpens your thinking, create that space.

There is no single formula for growth. But there is your formula, and I would encourage you to be a student of yourself and life.  

As always, if we can help you discover this about yourself or if there are specific topics you'd like us to cover, please let us know. We love helping you navigate your world, as you navigate the world.

In Your Corner.

See you next Tuesday!