Always Learning, Always Teaching

By: Jonathan Briscoe

This past weekend, I found myself in a casual conversation, nothing official, nothing planned. Just a normal visit with someone I’ve known for a while. We were talking business, life, and a few things in between when someone else joined in and said, “Is he bothering you.” Without missing a beat, the first person looked up and said, “No, I am learning, I always learn something from Jono (My Nickname).” At first, I wondered if I was unknowingly lecturing people every time we talked. I’d rather teach by example than run a masterclass no one asked for. But then it occurred to me, that’s the beauty of leadership done in a right way. Sometimes we teach without trying, just by living and sharing with humility.

It reminded me of a simple truth: everyone has something to teach. You don’t have to be at the top of the ladder. You don’t need a title. You just need a willingness to share what you’ve learned and just as importantly, a heart open enough to keep learning from others. There’s a misconception in business (and life) that knowledge flows top-down.

That the CEO is the teacher and everyone else is the student. But I’ve found that some of the most impactful lessons come from unexpected places. A new hire. A barista. A kid asking “why?” for the tenth time in a row.

The secret isn’t in what you know, it’s in how you carry what you know. When you approach every interaction with an iron sharpens iron mentality, you create a space where teaching and learning are not only welcome, they’re expected. The best part is that it multiplies. One humble exchange can change someone’s mindset, their business, or even their life trajectory.

Keep teaching, even if you don’t realize you’re doing it. Keep learning, especially when you think you already know. Be someone who others learn from not because you talk the most, but because you listen the best. In business and in life, be teachable and be willing to teach.

That’s how we grow companies, communities, and character. My question for you this week: Are you making space to be both the student and the teacher in your everyday conversations?