Think you know it all? You don’t, and that’s a good thing

Business insights, CEO, small businesses, leadership, Women’s History Month, Betty Friedan, opinion

Earlier this month, I found myself in a conference room in Novato, California, listening to a brilliant woman speak about biomarkers. Most of the information is going straight over my head. But I listen, I write copious notes, I ask questions. Why? I am in the rare disease space now. After my daughter was diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic disorder last year, I knew that I had to learn everything I could about her condition and what that meant for her present and future. I don’t have any other option. And so here I am, overwhelmed, listening to very smart researchers and scientists speak about gene therapy, animal studies, small molecules and repurposing drugs.

But I am not alone. I sit with other moms and dads — musicians and marketing directors, sociologists and investment bankers — unlikely leaders who find themselves here for the same reason. None are scientists or doctors, and yet they learn today so that they can try to make tomorrow better for their kids.

And it occurred to me how important it is for leaders to continue learning.

I see leaders who all too often think they already know it all. Now that they hold the position they have risen to and have people who look to them for answers, there is nothing else to learn. For me, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In this constantly evolving world, leaders must continue to learn, innovate, adapt. We must evolve so that our organizations remain relevant, our products and services continue to be cutting edge, and our team members continue to grow.

Sometimes that means starting from scratch, knowing what you don’t know and going from there, fueled by ambition and passion. When I started Capital Analytics, it was a crash course in entrepreneurialism. While I had many opportunities with my previous employer to hire staff, it was always for positions that I understood and knew well. I had never hired for all the positions I now needed as a startup, including roles that were beyond my breadth of experience and knowledge. And while I also had experience in putting together a budget, it was always project-based – never company-based and with forecasting further out. Some of it was trial by fire – yes, I brought on the wrong people from time to time due to my inexperience – and other times it was late night re-running of numbers, triple checking the bank account and what was or would be possible. After 10 years, I am still fine-tuning workflows or staying up to date with the most compelling software. There is an infinite number of new developments – and roles – in media and it can be overwhelming to take it all in. I find bite-sized portions work best for this now mom.

Other times, it may mean learning a new practicum. In my most recent case, it meant traveling across the country to attend a conference to learn how I might be able to implement new strategies to advocate for alpha-mannosidosis, how supplemental therapies or medicine might be necessary post-bone marrow transplant, and how to raise funds to support scientific research, clinical trials and more. I was intimidated (and still am, to be honest), but as my daughter’s mother, I have no choice but to step up, lean in and try my best to understand difficult and new concepts so I can be sure I’m providing the best care for her. Within our companies, isn’t that what we also want to do with our associates? Provide them with the best “care” regarding their progress, skills, goals and ambitions, creating that sense of place where people want to stay and grow with you? There are different kinds of “family,” but the need to keep learning how to deal with them, approach them, or help them remains the same.

And still more: It could mean personal growth and understanding that life is indeed a journey with endless opportunities to learn about one’s shortcomings. Much like entrepreneurialism is a trial-by-fire experience, so is motherhood. No matter all the books you may read on either subject, nothing is as profound as walking the path. I have been tested in learning to be more patient, learning to listen to my gut, learning to understand what someone actually means. You could read that last sentence and apply it to either thing: “running a startup” or “motherhood.” I have had to learn – and apply – those skills in all their variations and gradations in both my personal and professional lives, whether it is learning how to encourage an employee to rise to a challenge, or encourage my daughter to take her first steps; whether it is learning how to communicate my frustration to an employee who misunderstood my directions, or communicate with my daughter on her not listening to my directions, both with the goal of having a positive outcome, rather than an angry result.

I have been humbled over and over, again, learning that no person is the same, no kiddo is the same, no situation is the same and if I am not constantly learning and adapting, I will surely lose.

One thing is clear: the moment you think you know it all, you don’t. What was true yesterday might not be tomorrow. Author and business coach John Maxwell once said that “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” First, though, you need to learn the way.