Microsoft's CEO didn't invent the term Learn-it-All, but he has embraced and espoused its merits.
If you have been paying attention in the past 3+ years since Satya Nadella took over as Microsoft's CEO you would have seen that he talks about a Growth Mindset.
Has he gotten it right every time? No. And, when he has erred he went on to apologize.
Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
In her pioneering work Carol Dweck focused on the ability of people to use one mindset over the other to achieve more. She doesn't say it's easy. She doesn't offer a quick fix set of rules. But, she does set the groundwork for what it takes to think and with a Growth Mindset and to avoid the pitfalls of a Fixed Mindset.
There is another risk that ties the Do-it-All with the Know-it-All mentality. It’s this … You Can Never Do Both for the long haul. (Hint: You shouldn’t try to)
This image is shared under Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs - CC BY-NC-ND. Source: Reid Wilson
The Perils of Do-it-All
I've come to realize that a Do-it-All mentality is fragile and self-defeating. Much like the basketball coach that literally and figuratively cannot go on the court and do what they expect of the athletes under their tutelage the same can be said for a manger in a business.
Yes, individual contributors are often vaunted into management positions. It's a great way to grow from within. But, it doesn’t always work. The great sales rep doesn’t always become the great sales manager. Just as a great specialist doesn’t always become a great generalist.
This should not come as a surprise. There is one very simple trick to offset and ultimately defeat the Know-it-All and Do-it-All mentalities. It's not easy. The people with the KIA and DIA modes of thinking are often dead-set and hard-wired in their ways. I know … I’ve been there. I’m sure you have too at various times in your life. But, if they want to change. If they are ready to take the next step. They need to do one thing. And, that one thing requires something that they will be hard pressed to give up.
They need to realize that they can never Know-it-All or Do-it-All. Embrace that and embrace the mentality of a Life Long Learner. Become a Learn-it-All.
Remember … Learn-it-All > Know-it-All > Do-it-All
Choose Wisely!
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Jeff is business advisor, mentor and community engagement expert. He brings over 20 years of Channel Sales, Partner Marketing and Alliance expertise to audiences around the world in speaking engagements and via his writing. He has worked for Microsoft, Kodak, and K2. He is currently the Technical Alliances Manager at Zerto where he focuses on the Microsoft engagement efforts.
If you have been paying attention in the past 3+ years since Satya Nadella took over as Microsoft's CEO you would have seen that he talks about a Growth Mindset.
Has he gotten it right every time? No. And, when he has erred he went on to apologize.
Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
In her pioneering work Carol Dweck focused on the ability of people to use one mindset over the other to achieve more. She doesn't say it's easy. She doesn't offer a quick fix set of rules. But, she does set the groundwork for what it takes to think and with a Growth Mindset and to avoid the pitfalls of a Fixed Mindset.
See Fixed or Growth — Why Your Mindset MattersThere is a tie-in between the idea of a Growth Mindset and the perceived need to do it all too. The risks of a Do-it-All mindset is that you don’t leave enough time for reflection. I believe the corollary to a Growth Mindset is to know when the delegate and when dump things from your ever expanding To-Do list. Delegation and Saying No are a both an art and a science.
There is another risk that ties the Do-it-All with the Know-it-All mentality. It’s this … You Can Never Do Both for the long haul. (Hint: You shouldn’t try to)
The Perils of Do-it-All
I've come to realize that a Do-it-All mentality is fragile and self-defeating. Much like the basketball coach that literally and figuratively cannot go on the court and do what they expect of the athletes under their tutelage the same can be said for a manger in a business.
Yes, individual contributors are often vaunted into management positions. It's a great way to grow from within. But, it doesn’t always work. The great sales rep doesn’t always become the great sales manager. Just as a great specialist doesn’t always become a great generalist.
“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”
The Secret to Defeating the KIA and DIA mentality~John Wooden
This should not come as a surprise. There is one very simple trick to offset and ultimately defeat the Know-it-All and Do-it-All mentalities. It's not easy. The people with the KIA and DIA modes of thinking are often dead-set and hard-wired in their ways. I know … I’ve been there. I’m sure you have too at various times in your life. But, if they want to change. If they are ready to take the next step. They need to do one thing. And, that one thing requires something that they will be hard pressed to give up.
They need to realize that they can never Know-it-All or Do-it-All. Embrace that and embrace the mentality of a Life Long Learner. Become a Learn-it-All.
Remember … Learn-it-All > Know-it-All > Do-it-All
Choose Wisely!
---
Jeff is business advisor, mentor and community engagement expert. He brings over 20 years of Channel Sales, Partner Marketing and Alliance expertise to audiences around the world in speaking engagements and via his writing. He has worked for Microsoft, Kodak, and K2. He is currently the Technical Alliances Manager at Zerto where he focuses on the Microsoft engagement efforts.
Connect with me on Twitter @jshuey
He is a contributing author to Entrepreneur, Elite Daily, Yahoo, US News and to
the Personal Branding Blog with over 250 articles published.
the Personal Branding Blog with over 250 articles published.
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