Business Tips from SCORE: The best leaders are lifelong learners

Lifelong learning is essential for leaders to stay relevant, adaptable, and effective in an ever-changing world. Here are some best practices to cultivate a culture of continuous learning for small business owners to assist their leaders in learning and growing.

Foster a Learning Mindset .  Embrace curiosity. Encourage leaders to ask questions, seek new knowledge, and explore different perspectives. Promote a culture where curiosity is valued and learning is seen as a continuous journey.  Acknowledge growth opportunities. Recognize and reward leaders who pursue learning opportunities and demonstrate growth. Create an environment where mistakes are viewed as learning experiences rather than failures. Invest in Professional Development .  Provide access to learning resources. Offer access to online courses, workshops, seminars, and conferences relevant to their roles and interests. Stay tuned to the many SCORE-hosted webinars that are free and recorded. Provide subscriptions to industry journals, books, and other educational materials. Support formal education.  Encourage and support leaders in pursuing advanced degrees or certifications that enhance their knowledge and skills. Investigate the many courses available at Cape Cod Community College to improve skills and use of new technologies. Provide financial assistance or flexible schedules to accommodate their educational pursuits. Encourage Mentorship and Coaching . Pair leaders with mentors. Establish mentorship programs that connect leaders with more experienced mentors who can provide guidance and support. SCORE offers free mentoring for leaders, managers and those aspiring to grow professionally. Encourage reciprocal learning, where both mentors and mentees benefit from the relationship.  Offer professional coaching. Provide access to executive coaching to help leaders identify and achieve their personal and professional goals. Use coaching to address specific challenges and develop targeted skills. Promote a Learning Culture . Lead by example. Owners should model lifelong learning behaviors by actively engaging in their own development and sharing their experiences. When owners take time in their daily schedule to incorporate learning, team members follow. Highlight stories of continuous learning and improvement within the organization.

Create Collaborative Learning Opportunities. Facilitate peer learning through discussion groups, book clubs, and knowledge-sharing sessions. Join with organizations like CCWA, PPCI, CCYP to participate in their learning initiatives.  Encourage cross-functional projects that allow leaders to learn from different areas of the organization.  According to Glint, a human resources company owned by LinkedIn over 97% of employees want to increase or continue to learn.  By promoting a culture of learning, your company can fulfil a value sought by the majority of the supporting team. Leverage Technology for Learning . Utilize e-learning platforms. Implement e-learning platforms that provide a wide range of courses and learning materials accessible at any time.  Encourage leaders to use these platforms to enhance their skills and stay updated with industry trends.

Incorporate Microlearning. Offer bite-sized learning modules that can be easily integrated into daily routines.  One way to accomplish micro-learning is to use time before meetings start to share experiences that have learning elements and best practices.  Use mobile apps and online tools to deliver short, focused lessons that fit into busy schedules. Use Google Drive.  Another way to share knowledge is to set up Google Drives where everyone can share acquired knowledge, information and best practices.

Encourage Reflection and Self-Assessment. Encourage leaders to regularly reflect on their experiences, challenges, and successes.   Use reflection journals, peer discussions, or formal debriefs to facilitate this process.  Implement Self-Assessment Tools. Provide tools and frameworks for leaders to assess their own skills, knowledge, and performance.  Use assessments to identify areas for improvement and set learning goals.

Integrate Learning into Everyday Work. Encourage On-the-Job Learning.  Promote learning through practical experience by assigning challenging projects and stretch assignments.  Job sharing and job shadowing are two ways team members can learn about cross functional activities.  Encourage leaders to take on new roles or responsibilities to broaden their skills.  Foster a Feedback-Rich Environment.  Create a culture where regular feedback is encouraged and valued.  Use feedback to identify development areas and guide learning efforts.

Measure and Evaluate. As with all objectives there must be a measurement element to assure that the actions taken are working.  If you set an objective of having a lifelong learning culture find ways to measure its effectiveness and make appropriate changes that are indicated.

Making managers and leaders lifelong learners requires a deliberate and supportive approach. By fostering a learning mindset, investing in professional development, encouraging mentorship and coaching, promoting a learning culture, leveraging technology, encouraging reflection and self-assessment, and integrating learning into everyday work, organizations can ensure their leaders remain adaptable, knowledgeable, and effective. These practices not only enhance individual growth but also drive organizational success in a rapidly evolving world.

Contributed by Marc L. Goldberg, Certified Mentor, SCORE Cape Cod and the Islands, www.score.org/capecod , 508/775-4884.  Sources:  The Best Leaders are Constant Learners, Kenneth Mikkelsen and Harold Jarche, QAspire.com, How to Create an Effective Learning Culture for Contiuous Improvement, Riley Webster, Thinkific Plus, 9/20/2023.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Business Tips from SCORE: The best leaders are lifelong learners