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“One of the most important things about leadership is that you have to have the kind of humility that will allow you to be coached.” Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank.
The above quote comes from the new President of the World Bank as he tries to change the culture of the World Bank chronicled in an article by Lillian Cunningham in the Washington Post . What struck me about the quote was how critical humility was to being coachable and how critical coach-ability is to being an effective leader. So the question is: Are you Coachable? Answer the following questions and find out.
1) Do you have any coaches in your life currently?
- People whose expertise and wisdom you are allowing to shape your views on different domains in your life, such as health, business, personal development?
2) Do you try new things on a regular basis that you have learned?
- Are you jumping into Social Media or have you implemented a new workout program recently (assuming you are working out regularly.)?
3) Do you regularly thank people in your life for the gifts of learning that they gave you?
- Have you recently thanked a friend for exposing you to new food, or your coach for opening up blogging to you (Thanks, Em!)?
4) Do you have practices that you commit to on a regular basis?
- Practices such as exercise, writing, meditation, personal development, or professional reading?
If most of your answers to the above are no, I am going to suggest that your biggest leadership challenge is not others, it is you. To be a leader, learning to lead yourself is key. If you are not trying new ideas or leading yourself into a new future, how can you expect those who are your followers do do so? To be the master of one’s self, one has to allow another to be their teacher. So, are you coachable? #leadershipflow