Key: Pursue growth through continuous learning.
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 NIV
“Be prepared in season and out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:2
Today’s learners are tomorrow’s leaders. Learning beats knowing.
We are always learning and growing, renewing our minds, and being transformed.
Today’s learners are tomorrow’s leaders. Learning beats knowing. We believe that the future belongs to learners. As Paul of Tarsus said, “Those who think they know do not yet know as they ought to know”(1 Cor 8:2). The knowledge that brought you to where you are isn’t going to take you to the future you need to go. Those who listen to the exhortation of the legendary Steve Jobs to ‘Stay hungry. Stay foolish,’ are always learning and growing. The future belongs to them.
Behaviors that foster this mindset:
- Constantly pursues transformational growth through active learning and renewing the mind; Is intentional about self-growth; Is committed to self-improvement; Is always learning and growing. Committed to continuing education that helps people live out our mission.
- Learn and be curious. Leading is learning. Continuously be seeking to improve self. Explore opportunities for self-growth.
- Discovers God-given gifts and talents and develops them to serve others. Grows gifts and talents (developing skills in one’s area of calling) as well as in the Physical, Spiritual, Mental, and Social/Emotional dimensions. Is calling-driven. Helps others find their God-given DESIGN or calling so that they can join God in his work in the unique ways God created and called them.
- Has a growth mindset. Stays Hungry!
- Chases his dreams. Is results-oriented.
- Never quits on the mission. Every failure and every obstacle provides a challenge to learn, grow, overcome, and succeed. Failure leads to success if we learn from it and don’t quit.
- Believes in “the power of yet.”* Failure/Difficulty = not-yet–success.The keyword is YET. Failure simply says, “not yet, not this very minute. Learn from this clue and try again and maybe next time”. We view failure as clues or signposts on our way to success. Success is guaranteed if we simply do two things: 1) Keep learning from every mistake, and 2) Persevere and never quit.
- Is innovative. When something doesn’t work or isn’t working at it’s best, he/she comes up with new ideas and tries them.
- Regularly seeks feedback, receives it gratefully, and grows from it. Gives and receives continuous feedback — up, down, and across the organization – based in a shared determination to helping each other learn, grow, and improve.
- Views failure as feedback. Learns from them and makes the changes needed to be more successful in the future.
- Has a teachable attitude.
Q: In what ways am I personally engaged in 1) growing myself, and 2) growing the organization?
Verses
- “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV
- “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 NIV
- “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 NIV
- Jesus Models Growth-Mindedness with a hunger for growth (Luke 2: 41-52)”41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
References/Sources.
CD. This phrase was coined by Carol Dweck.
