Why Learn From Your Followers

At times, we focus on the big picture and loose sight of those tiny pieces of the puzzles that makes a whole. Most leaders have lost their capacity to achieve more in life because they see themselves as the surpreme and lord of all knowledge. Listening to other people's opinion, especially someone who is of lesser rank / junior staff / follower is out of it because they assume no-one knows as much as they do or perhaps, no idea can be better than theirs. Here is the hard truth, and you better listen; He who knows the value of learning will not look down on any man's idea. In fact, there is a saying that "no man is an island of knowledge," and that happens to be something I believe in. And, not only do I learn from people, I also learn from things. Without any intention to shove my faith into your throat, I want to remind you of that portion in the bible where Jesus Christ referred some people to go study the 'ants' so they can gain knowledge (talking about a thing). There is another example where he asked one of his disciples, "who do people say I am?" and secondly he asked again, " who do you say I am?" What he was simply doing is to get an idea or an opionion of what his disciple think of him. How many leaders of our time does that?
So much knowledge and energy flows around us and it's only a few of us who are truly awaken and aware of it.
Most of the discoveries we see in science today were inspired by someone sharing an idea, a suggestion or opinion. While some others have been inspired to create technological tools just by observing animals like eagle, ants, dragon fly, tortoise and so on.
Believe it or not, the moment we begin to think we know it all or can do it all, is the very moment we begin to diminish. You have to decide and choose to listen out to people first, even when their idea sounds stupid and ridiculous. In the end, you might hear that will save you from many years of fuitless labour in the future.

"The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes." ~ Winston Churchill

As for me, I strongly desire to always be a learner, why? Because it's the only passport that qualifies me for leadership.
I learn from anyone, everyone, anything and everything.

Written by: Ebenezer Akinrinade (CYFI Fellow)
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