by Rick Baker
On Aug 29, 2013
For some reason, people want to learn and people want to do good work.
The drive to learn is evident in our infancy. We see it in the seeking eyes of newborn babies. The drive to do good work is intimately tied to a need for approval. We see that in developing children. They do their best to do tasks in order to receive the approval of their parents, then authority figures, then peers.
Those intrinsic drives to do good work stay with us though our lives. People are intrinsically driven to learn and do good work. Their intrinsic drive should not be questioned, regardless of their performance.
If a person's performance does not illustrate learning or good work then do not conclude that person does not want to learn or want to do good work. Rather, conclude the person (1) has, for one reason or another, suppressed his or her drive to learn and do good work or (2) the person simply does not 'know how'.
People want to learn but often nobody has taught them the specific things they require to do good work.
Above all else, great leaders are great teachers.
Great leaders cannot teach everything. Great leaders always have great weaknesses. They must not teach in areas where they have weakness. They must teach in areas where they have strength. In their areas of strength, great leaders are great teachers.