Leading is Learning (an excerpt from the authors NEW book, Oracle of the Obvious: Secrets to Common Sense Leadership.
Legacy signals
Legacy popularity: 1,386 legacy views
Legacy rating: 3.5/5 from 6 archived votes
To explain why leading and learning are synonymous, reflect on the words of Eric Hoffer:
In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.
In other words, learning is the key to remaining adaptable and flexible in times of change; those who are bound by certainty eventually become obsolete. As leaders should be those who remain ahead of the tides of change, they must by definition be learners. And as leaders should raise others to be adaptable and flexible, they must encourage learning in those whom they lead.
Now, to give this discussion a few more twists…
Leaders are at their best when they are learning, and not when they are teaching. It would seem natural, especially in our culture, to revere the wise leader who knows all. The problem with this, however, is that it is a myth. Leaders cannot know all, not about their organization, their industry, their environment, their people. And when leaders think they know all, they become trapped in certainty and risk becoming obsolete. And when those who follow them think the leaders know all, they risk stifling their own creativity by limiting their knowledge to that of their leaders.
As was pointed out earlier, diversity in ideas is a powerful and natural resource for any organization. Why would any leader limit the creation and sharing of ideas for the sake of being right?
Leadership is not having all of the answers. And leadership is not teaching one set of ideas.
Further, remember the old saying about leaders being born and not made? Well, leaders are not born. They do not have some magic quality that distinguishes them from the rest of humanity. Leaders are made, and they are made from the sum of their learning experiences. The more they learn, the better the quality of their leadership. The more they remain learners, the more the quality of their leadership will continue to improve.
By being in a position of learning, leaders are consistently open to the ideas of others, less conce
ed with the need to be right or to bear all responsibility and less focused on creating a world in their image. They become more intent on nurturing the organizations they lead and on growing the potential of the individuals in their care.
To learn more about their book visit www.oracleoftheobvious.com today!
Article author
About the Author
Raymond D. Jorgensen, Ph.D. – Director of the Jorgensen Learning Centerr
Ray spent thirty years in America’s private and public schools as a teacher, coach, department head, collegiate faculty member and school administrator. Today he provides leadership development consultative services to a variety of public and private organizations and coaches the internal JLC leader consultants.
During his three decades of public service, Ray was called upon by various communities to present seminars on both the technical and personal sides of leadership, management and learning. These forays into public speaking defined Ray’s work with various businesses and organizations and ultimately led him to his current position as Director of the Jorgensen Learning Center. Ray has worked with public and private school systems, city and county governments, hospitals, banks, military, physicians’ offices, and a variety of private businesses as a keynote speaker, facilitator, and seminar-workshop leader. Ray’s professional consulting is defining programs as systemic efforts to develop the leadership capabilities needed for any organization to thrive.
Dena Hurst, Ph.D. is a practicing philosopher whose passion is to help individuals and organizations realize their full creative potential. Her approach emphasizes conversation theory, styles and techniques as a means of building leadership capacity in individuals and organizations. Dena utilizes the concept of Conversational Leadership to work with individuals and organizations to create an environment of openness, trust, respect, and accountability, to improve communication.
Dena holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and a doctorate in Philosophy. She has worked for the past 13 years for a university outreach institute in the roles of project manager, project leader, research director, financial officer, and chief operations officer. Her varied duties allowed her to work with government and university leaders at all levels, local and state elected officials, gube
atorial and legislative commissions, and professional associations.
Dena also founded a not-for-profit, EHC, Inc., to foster conversation among scholars around the globe. She has coordinated 3 successful dialogue sessions in Califo
ia, and Czech Republic. She also volunteers for the Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and and has taught performance management and leadership skills to groups in St. Kitts/Nevis. Learn more at www.GOJLC.com
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
How Nathan Levinsonâs Business Discipline Is Shaping the Mindset of Tomorrowâs Leaders
In a time when professional uncertainty is the norm, resilience has become a top priority; not just for entrepreneurs, but for anyone looking to stay relevant and grounded in a fast-changing world. One leader whoâs built his reputation on this kind of consistency is Nathan Levinson , Founder and CEO of Royal York Property Management .rnWhile Levinson is best known for pioneering the worldâs first rental income guarantee and growing one of Canadaâs largest property manag
September 10, 2025
Article
Christopher Terry’s Quiet Model of Leadership Through Inner Work
The leadership conversation often centers on doing more—acquiring more knowledge, setting bigger goals, and chasing louder victories. But what if the real key to growth has less to do with adding and everything to do with aligning? Christopher Terry, respected mentor and teacher, is challenging this performance-focused mindset. His philosophy offers an alte ative: the quiet power of inner work, where clarity, presence, and identity guide action more than any exte al metric ev
June 27, 2025
Article
Storm Boswick Shares the Importance of Communication in Effective Leadership
Storm Boswick explains that great leaders donât just chart the course; they articulate the journey. While many leadership qualities are hailed as essential, such as vision, decisiveness, and integrity, none of them matter without one indispensable skill: communication. From small startups to multinational corporations, effective communication sits at the heart of impactful leadership. Without it, even the best strategies can unravel, and the most cohesive teams can falter.
May 20, 2025
Article
Investing in Technology: How CEOs Can Leverage Tech for Business Growth
In the modern business landscape, technology is not merely a tool but a strategic necessity. From streamlining operations to engaging customers and enhancing products, technology holds the key to staying competitive and achieving sustainable growth. Successful CEOs understand the value of tech investments and actively incorporate them into their business strategies to lead their companies to new heights. The Importance of Technology Investments 1. Operational Efficiency Techn
November 19, 2024