Lessons Learned vs Lessons Earned

Another leadership axiom, very much based on where I'm at right now.

Lessons Learned vs Lessons Earned

Lessons learned are those that people give to you. The ones where you receive wisdom from those who seek to guide you. Be that family, friends, colleagues, managers, pastors etc. Often refined to a set of rules, of procedures, or theologies (or even axioms...)

Lessons earned are something altogether different. Lessons earned are precious expressions of pain, joy, effort and experience. They rarely seem to come easily, but for all that they are irreplaceable. They usually become a part of you, so much so that you don't even realise it and often they make your decisions for you.

So treasure those lessons but remember this warning: Not all lessons earned are good ones, especially those learned through abuse of people or systems. They require grace to combat them. These are the lessons that have to be unlearned; no easy task if they've taken year to soak in .

Leadership Axioms

Last year at the Global Leadership Summit Bill Hybels spent some time talking about his book Axioms. Inspired by Colin Powell's 'Powell Principals' he wrote down the phrases that summed up his leadership wisdom.

I don't have quite as many as him, but I do have two that I think of regularly.

The first is - It can only go, horribly wrong.
Used as a response to new initiatives or the question 'What's the worst that can happen?', this axiom helps me to get a BIG picture perspective on things. Once you accept that the the worst outcome is that it can only go horribly wrong, then you face the fear. And that, is the crux of it. Hence the reason that the most common command in the bible is 'Do not fear', so don't.

The second is - Catch the Clash Curve.
Anytime someone comes in to your organisation, church or group they have to adjust to your culture. In fact you'll probably be encouraging and help them to learn the ropes. For the first few days/weeks or possibly months, they will clash and then, rise up on the curve of learning your ways; the longer they are involved the quicker they'll learn. It's exponential. There is, however, a one off, time limited, chance for you here. These same people are the most likely people you know to be able to see you and your team as they really are. They'll notice things, question things; things that clash with the culture they're from. Use this opportunity to learn about yourself and your team. Seek out conversations, formally or informally, to get this information and the mark out time to reflect on it, but be quick, the chance will be gone before you know it!