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From the perspective of the book of Proverbs, it is in our best interest to be open and receptive to new ideas. When we resist new ways of thinking, we adopt a self-defeating posture that does not serve us or our institution. The counsel in Proverbs 1:5 is “let the wise listen and add to their learning.”
Leaders at all levels should consider this sage advice because continuous learning is fundamental to the work of leadership. Proverbs encourages us to take an active role in the pursuit of new knowledge: “My [child]…if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure…” (Proverbs 2:1-4, emphasis added)
How do you — and your leadership team — find meaningful ways to keep learning and explore new knowledge? What if our approaches to learning did not always need to follow traditional pathways, like earning a degree? For instance, we can take a gardening class, and as we learn how to care for plants, we might learn how to be a more compassionate, caring leader. We can take dance lessons and find out how doing something that might be uncomfortable for us can help us learn to embrace the unfamiliar and unknown.
Learning also happens through feedback and critique. We all need affirmation, but being open to constructive feedback is an incredibly important part of continual learning. In the face of feedback, it’s vital not to rush to make excuses for ourselves or be defensive about our actions. We may not like what we hear, but if we take the time to reflect on it, there’s almost always something we can learn.
Resources
12 book recommendations from the Faith & Leadership staff
Faith & Leadership staff asked friends and colleagues to recommend books they read in the past year. Here is a list of highlights.
Podcast: ‘David Armijo: Invest in Your People’
Giving your employees the freedom to fail can unlock new skills and push boundaries, says an executive with over 20 years of experience.
Reframing evaluation
Effective evaluation is about learning from one’s work, not judgment. It is a process that must be in place from the beginning of a project and be done in community.
By Susan M. Weber
Excerpt: ‘In This World of Wonders: Memoir of a Life in Learning’
Renowned philosopher and theologian Nicholas Wolterstorff tells how he became a student while discussing his own book with prison inmates.
By Nicholas Wolterstorff
Before you go
In fields such as medicine and law, there’s a long history of celebrating continuous learning. It’s built into each profession’s certifications. But congregational leadership has often been built on static models. Today, ministry leaders who are not actively learning new information and new ways of doing things will find it increasingly difficult to see the work of the church thrive.
Whether it’s learning more about the craft of preaching, updating church business practices or wrestling with a newly published theological text, continuous learning is important for institutional and personal well-being. It doesn’t just help us do ministry better; it makes us feel more confident and competent in our calling. So what’s on your summer learning list?
You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading!
Prince R. Rivers
Editor, Alban at Duke Divinity