Your Learner Talent: A Journey From Ignorance to Competence

On this Theme Thursday Season 3 webcast, Jim Collison, Gallup's Director of Talent Sourcing, and Maika Leibbrandt, Senior Workplace Consultant, talk about Learner with guest Derrick Jack.

You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for you. You are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what you have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered -- this is the process that entices you.

Your excitement leads you to engage in adult learning experiences -- yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables you to thrive in dynamic work environments where you are asked to take on short project assignments and are expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one. This Learner theme does not necessarily mean that you seek to become the subject matter expert or that you are striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than the "getting there."

As an individual, Learner enjoys the challenge of mastering something new. For a leader, current challenges and future trends both offer opportunities to master something relevant. There is an emotional aspect to Learner. Everybody could enjoy learning, but those with Learner really feel charged by it. It recharges you, bringing a sense of joy and energy. Find the most natural connection you can create in that emotional charge with others.

Learner is going to enable you as leader to catch on rather quickly. This also lends itself to adapting to shifting priorities. Because you can adapt quickly to change, you can also quickly acclimate yourself, and then serve others who may not have that same quickness. You can do this by honing your best learning tactics. A Learner needs exposure, and they can take that exposure to create inclusion and acceptance.

Learner can build trust by aiming what you are discovering at people. What can you open yourself up to that's relevant? A leader could use Learner to provide stability by being prepared in the not knowing. Be prepared to not always be the smartest person in the room. Not always being the expert can create stability and a transparency for others knowing they're on the same page as you. You can create compassion by understanding that it is important to be patient with people who are thrown by a disequilibrium. Be able to explain to others what you are doing and why you are doing it. Learner can create hope by being able to dive in and letting your followers know that you can find the answer together. It disarms the need to know it all, and picks up the need to learn more.

Derrick Jack's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are Learner, Ideation, Restorative, Achiever and Strategic.