The 4 Disciplines of A Leader's Lifelong Learning

Leaders have no choice but to be Life-Long Learners. Life-long learning is the method & process by which individuals engage in learning, un-learning and re-learning, which centres around individuals rather than institutions. Indeed, formal education can only get you to the start-point in today's Knowledge Economy, where knowledge has become a major competitive advantage to nations, businesses and individuals.

While mastery of content knowledge remains important for entry into any field, to lead in the Knowledge Economy, one needs to hone skills that underlie the learning, unlearning and re-learning processes. To be successful exemplars of lifelong learning, leaders will require mastery of 4 learning-to-learn disciplines:

• Learning HOW one learns

Recognition of one's learning style and optimum learning conditions allows leaders to maximise their learning time and effort, while meeting their demands of operational roles in their respective organisations. Such a discipline provides the foundation of the next 3.

• Evaluating the value of WHAT one has learnt

Leaders practise active reflection of their newly-acquired knowledge and identify the core elements most directly relevant and applicable to their leadership contexts. With limited resources of time on their hands, the discipline of evaluation will ensure that their learning effort remains situated in the leadership and management situations they face.

• Integrating WHAT one has learnt with prior knowledge & experience

Leaders have then to consciously test and apply principles derived from their reflection process. As strategies develop from these principles, leaders begin to integrate the principles with their prior knowledge. Through this process, the learning done is now internalised and has gained the benefits of experience.

• Recognising a diversity of learners and learning experiences

Leaders are also teachers and as effective teachers, would recognise that there is a diversity of learning styles in the people they lead. This means they have to adjusting to different learning concerns as they teach. They will also need to develop instructional skills to facilitate meaningful learning experiences that cater to this diversity.

Whatever positions they occupy, Leaders are vital to the success of their organisations in leveraging on Knowledge as a competitive advantage. The degree of success will certainly depend on how they gain mastery of the 4 Disciplines of a Leader's Lifelong Learning.

Noel Tan
Resident Philosopher
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