Jefferson on Knowing It All

 

“He who knows most, knows
how little he knows.”

– Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
3rd president of the United States

You don’t know everything.

You do know that, don’t you?

Continual learning is a basic necessity to professional improvement and in many cases it’s other people who will help you get there.

But only if you’re coachable. Are you?

To be coachable means to be…

  • Approachable
  • Attentive
  • Receptive
  • Curious
  • Objective
  • Trusting
  • Shapeable
  • Confident

It means you listen with the intent to learn rather than to show what you know – exactly the type of listening required in the sales process.

Huxley on Climbing the Ladder

 

“The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man’s foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.”

– Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–1895)

English biologist and educator

Are you holding yourself accountable as a leader (with a title or not)?

As leaders, we enjoy the responsibility of helping people develop in a way that encourages them to hold themselves accountable for their attitudes, their work, and their results.

We need to be as disciplined, resourceful, and resilient in our efforts as we ask our people to be in theirs.

Relentless leadership is embracing the fact that the need for solid & ongoing reinforcement never ends and uncomfortable conversations are a necessity. This is how we create something special.

Managers: How much development attention are you giving to your team? (20% of your week would be a full day of nothing but development time… 40% would be two full days, beginning to end)

Professionals: Don’t have a coaching manager? Consider finding a development partner.

Paine on Loving The Smover

 

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.”

–Thomas Paine (1737–1809)

American political theorist & writer

In early 1776, Thomas Paine published the best-selling pamphlet Common Sense. It sold more than 500,000 copies (before the Internet), influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and set the stage for The American Revolution (some pretty powerful words).

 

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