The Power of Being Teachable for Personal and Professional Growth
As a healing and leadership coach, I help business owners and leaders who want to grow, heal, and lead in an authentic way. One key trait that can make a big difference in your personal and professional success is being teachable. This means being open to learning, willing to make changes, and humble enough to know there’s always room to improve.
Think that’s it? Not quite.
In this article, we’ll go over ten important traits that show teachability. I’ll also challenge you to reflect on how these traits show up in your personal life and your business.
Are you consistent in both areas, or do you see gaps? Let’s dive into how embracing these traits can lead to real growth.
Why This Matters for Leaders and Business Owners
In today’s fast-moving world, leaders need to keep growing and adjusting. Whether it’s through feedback from your team, learning from mistakes, or seeking new knowledge, having a teachable mindset is key to long-term success.
It’s also pointless to hire me—or any consultant, coach, or therapist—if you’re not willing to rethink what you believe is true or the best way to do things.
Dr. Carol Dweck, a famous psychologist known for her work on the growth mindset, says, “When you have a growth mindset, you’re open to feedback and ready to build new skills.” This ability to adapt is crucial because businesses change, new challenges arise, and leaders who refuse to learn often get stuck in old ways that no longer work.
Here’s something to consider: How well do your personal values align with the way you run your business? As we go through the key traits of a teachable leader, I encourage you to think about this connection.
Next, I’ll ask you a few questions to help you figure out if you’re truly teachable or just going through the motions.
10 Traits of Teachable Leaders
1. Humility: The Key to Growth
Humility means admitting you don’t have all the answers and that others may have helpful ideas.
Ask yourself:
“Do I ask my team or peers for feedback? When I get feedback, do I change my behavior?”
Business Practice:
When was the last time you asked your team for their thoughts? Do you really listen, or do you ignore what doesn’t match your beliefs? You could hold regular feedback meetings or use an anonymous suggestion box to get honest input.
Personal vs. Business:
“Am I open to feedback in my personal life, just like in business? Do I handle personal criticism as well as professional feedback?”
Think about how you react to feedback from friends or family. Do you get defensive? Practice listening and thanking people for their input in both areas.
Example:
Alan Mulally, the former CEO of Ford, turned the company around by encouraging openness and humility, helping Ford go from losing money to earning $20 billion in profit.
The greatest mistake you can make is to fear making one.
2. Honesty: Facing Reality
Being honest means admitting your strengths and weaknesses, without letting pride get in the way.
Ask yourself:
“Am I honest with myself and my team about my limits? Do I take responsibility for mistakes?”
Business Practice:
Do you own up to things when they don’t go as planned? Do self-checks and encourage your team to do the same. Be open about challenges, both for the company and yourself.
Personal vs. Business:
“Am I as honest in my personal life as I am at work? Do I admit my mistakes more easily at work than at home?”
Hold yourself to the same level of honesty in both areas. Being truthful builds trust in relationships, just like it does at work. I shared my thoughts on the power of facing fears and being honest in the social media post below. Click the link to join the conversation!
Change Sucks.
— Denise G. Lee (@DeniseGLee) January 15, 2025
You feel me?
Even when we know something needs to shift, we humans have a way of rationalizing even the worst situations.
🫣 It’s not that bad.
🙄 I can work through this.
😬 Maybe there’s an easier way.
If you’ve caught yourself thinking these things, don’t…
3. Openness to Learning: Always Ready to Grow
A teachable leader is always eager to learn new things, no matter how successful they are.
Question to ask yourself:
“When was the last time I learned something new? How often do I look for fresh ideas that challenge my usual way of thinking?”
Business Practice:
Do you invest in training for yourself and your team? How often do you step outside your comfort zone to explore new strategies? Make time for continuous learning by attending industry conferences, reading relevant books, or taking online courses.
Personal vs. Business:
“Am I equally open to learning and growing in my personal life? Do I apply the same curiosity in my relationships and self-development as I do in my career?” Bring this eagerness into your personal interests too. Try new hobbies or learn something unrelated to work. You might find that skills from one area can help another!
Many of us hold on to what we know because we’re scared to try something new. But how can we grow, both personally and professionally, if we don’t challenge ourselves? Elbert Hubbard said, “The greatest mistake you can make is to fear making one.”
The cost of avoiding growth is high. For example, how can we expect our businesses to attract and keep great people if we don’t encourage learning and growth? A 2018 LinkedIn report showed that 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning. This proves how important it is for leaders to create a culture of continuous learning.
Take time each week to reflect on your personal behaviors and relationships. Keeping a journal can help track your thoughts and feelings about both aspects of your life.
4. Awareness: Understanding Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Self-awareness is crucial for growth because it helps you use your strengths effectively while working on your weaknesses.
Question to ask yourself:
“Am I aware of my strengths and weaknesses? Do I avoid areas needing improvement because they make me uncomfortable?”
Business Practice:
How do you assess your performance? Use tools like 360-degree feedback or personality tests to understand how your leadership style affects others.
Personal vs. Business:
“Do I have the same level of self-awareness in my personal life as I do at work? Am I more likely to overlook personal shortcomings while focusing on professional strengths?”
Take time each week to reflect on your personal behaviors and relationships. Keeping a journal can help track your thoughts and feelings about both aspects of your life.
Example:
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, credits self-awareness as key to his leadership success. He regularly seeks feedback from others and adjusts his style based on what he learns. This approach has helped Microsoft thrive under his leadership.
5. Gratefulness: Seeing Challenges as Growth Opportunities
Gratitude helps you see challenges as opportunities to grow, not just problems. I get it—this can be hard to believe when you’re facing tough situations, like hiring or firing people. It might not make sense if you’re dealing with a personal or health crisis either. But stick with me—gratitude is more important than you might realize.
Ask yourself:
“Do I see feedback and challenges as opportunities for growth or threats?”
Business Practice: How do you handle criticism at work? Make sure to thank anyone who gives you helpful feedback, even if it’s hard to hear. It doesn’t matter if it comes from a client or a new intern—if their advice has value, it’s worth looking into and being grateful for. Hearing it now could save you from bigger problems down the road.
Personal vs. Business:
“Am I equally grateful for learning opportunities in my personal life? Do I welcome growth everywhere or resist personal challenges?”
Consider keeping a gratitude journal where you note down opportunities for growth—both personally and professionally—so you can maintain a positive mindset across all areas of life.
Melody Beattie said beautifully, “Gratitude turns what we have into enough…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
6. Curiosity: The Desire to Explore
Curiosity drives innovation by pushing us to ask questions and explore new ideas—even the ones that seem a bit wild, unconventional, or uncomfortable. In other words, sometimes it’s okay to get a little weird!
Question to ask yourself:
“When something unfamiliar comes up, do I ask questions or avoid it because it feels uncomfortable?”
Business Practice:
Do you look into new trends in your industry? Are you willing to question old ways of doing things? Encourage curiosity by rewarding innovative thinking among team members.
Personal vs. Business:
“Am I just as curious about my personal growth? Do I question old habits or cling tightly to familiar patterns?”
Nurture curiosity outside work by trying new experiences or meeting people from different backgrounds. This broader view can lead to fresh insights in both personal life and work
Too many of us wait for things to get out of hand before we decide to make a change. You don’t have to wait for a crisis to reboot your personal life. And, more importantly, you don’t have to do it all alone.
7. Patience: Embracing the Process
Growth takes time! Patience allows us to push through challenges while understanding that learning is a journey rather than a quick fix.
Question to ask yourself:
“Do I expect quick results or am I willing to invest time into learning?”
Business Practice:
How do you handle long-term projects at work? Set realistic timelines for projects and celebrate small wins along the way so everyone stays motivated.
Personal vs. Business:
“Do I apply patience in my personal life too? Do I expect immediate results in relationships or self-improvement?”Recognize that changing habits takes time; celebrate small improvements along the way!
Leo Tolstoy wisely said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” Embrace these qualities both personally and professionally!
8. Resilience: Bouncing Back from Setbacks
Resilience means bouncing back from difficulties instead of letting them discourage us—an essential trait for teachable leaders!
Question to ask yourself:
“When faced with a setback, do I feel discouraged or see it as an opportunity for growth?”
Business Practice:
How do you respond when things don’t go as planned at work? Foster an environment where failure is seen as a chance to learn rather than an end point; share stories about past failures along with lessons learned from them!
Personal vs. Business:
“Am I equally resilient personally? Do setbacks affect me differently at home versus work?”Reflect on how well you handle challenges outside work—do they derail you completely or motivate improvement?
Example:
J.K. Rowling faced many rejections before finding success with Harry Potter; her resilience led her through tough times toward one of the most successful book series ever written!
9. Accountability: Owning Your Growth
Chances are, nobody forced you to read this article. You chose to learn just for the sake of learning. That’s great! Teachable leaders take responsibility for their own learning—they don’t wait around for others’ help!
Question To Ask Yourself:
“Do I take full responsibility for my growth or rely on others?”
Business Practice:
Are you proactive about seeking opportunities for improvement at work? Set clear goals related specifically towards development; share these goals with colleagues so they can help hold each other accountable!
Personal vs Business:
“Do I also take responsibility regarding personal goals?” “Do I share with others my struggles as well as successes?”
Too many of us wait for things to get out of hand before we decide to make a change. You don’t have to wait for a crisis to reboot your personal life. And, more importantly, you don’t have to do it all alone. Share personal goals with friends who can support each other’s journeys! Regular check-ins keep everyone motivated across all aspects!
Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Putting yourself in new situations helps you build resilience and adaptability over time!
10. Adaptability: Readiness to Embrace Change
In our fast-paced world today being adaptable is crucial! Adaptable leaders thrive during uncertainty leading organizations through change effectively!
Question To Ask Yourself:
“When facing new challenges do adapt quickly or resist clinging onto old ways?”
Business Practice:
How easily adjust strategies when faced with unexpected circumstances arise within businesses?
Regularly review/update business plans while remaining flexible enough pivoting strategies whenever necessary!
Personal vs Business:
“Am adaptable personally like professionally?”Practice adaptability personally by embracing technology changes trying new routines/hobbies!
We all know of businesses that have taken over others. Hecht’s took over Woodward & Lothrop, which was later bought by Macy’s. And if you haven’t noticed lately—Macy’s is struggling now. Nothing stays the same. As Charles Darwin said, “It’s not the strongest or smartest species that survive, but those most adaptable to change.”
Now, let’s move away from the abstract and into the concrete. How do you become a more teachable person? Does it require a magic wand or a secret potion? Unfortunately, no! Becoming teachable just takes some effort and a sprinkle of curiosity. In the next section, we will discuss how to do that.
Tips To Help You Learn and Grow
I know I’ve shared many ideas about being teachable. You might be wondering, “How do I do that?” That’s a great question! Here are some tips to help you become more teachable.
- Regular Self-Reflection
Set aside time each week to think about your personal and professional experiences. Note what you learned and areas where you can grow! - Seek Different Perspectives
Look for different viewpoints by reading books, attending events outside your usual interests, and having conversations that challenge your beliefs! - Embrace Discomfort
Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Putting yourself in new situations helps you build resilience and adaptability over time! - Practice Active Listening
Focus on really understanding others’ perspectives before responding. Ask questions to ensure clarity during discussions! - Create a Learning Plan
Make a plan that outlines specific goals and timelines. Hold yourself accountable, and review and adjust it regularly to keep it relevant and challenging! - Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Challenge the belief that your abilities are fixed. Adopt the idea that skills and intelligence can develop through effort and learning! - Celebrate Learning, Not Just Achievements
Shift your focus from outcomes to the process. Celebrate the lessons you learn from both failures and successes to foster a positive mindset throughout your journey!
I hope you find these tips helpful. The image below shows a summary of them. If you have a tip that worked well for you, please reach out and let me know. Next, I’ll share my final thoughts.
Final Thoughts
I understand that these topics can be difficult to discuss. We all want to be seen as beautiful, healthy, wealthy, and wise. However, the truth is that our growth is often limited by our comfort zones. I encourage you to embrace being uncomfortably comfortable with the idea that, with support from others, you can grow both personally and professionally.
What are you doing to become more teachable? I’d love to hear your thoughts—send me a message using this link!
Want to dive deeper into how being teachable can transform your life? Listen to my podcast for more insights! And if you’re ready to work together on your growth journey, reach out—I’d love to help you grow, heal, and lead with confidence.
