My six year old knows everything.
I mean EVERYthing. I forewarned her kindergarten teacher on day one by explaining, “she considers herself the equal of any adult.”
It doesn’t matter what I am trying to teach her, she interrupts with, “I know, I know, I know,” while waving her little hand at me dismissively.
Yeah. We are working on that!
But in the meantime, it gives me plenty of fodder for life-lesson reflection.
I think we all know that we need to be teachable.
As functioning adults we have learned to ask for directions (even if all we ask is Google Maps).
We have learned to search out recipes or how-to tips from more knowledgeable adults.
And we know the importance of mastering that difficult learning curve at the start of any new job or endeavor that is out of our comfort zone.
So sure, I think we all agree that we are willing to learn.
But are we really, truly teachable?
You see, teachability doesn’t start with a desire to learn. Many mind-hungry people are far from teachable. Someone can seek out expert instruction for knowledge and skills but still embody an arrogance which will prevent them from seeing their own short-comings.
I think of a much younger and very inexperienced coworker who once came to me for guidance on how to complete some project work. This coworker expressed frustration that certain things were so easy for me.
So I tried to offer encouragement. I said, “You are young. In time and with experience this will become easy for you, too.”
This coworker bristled in indignation. The response came, “I’m offended that you refer to my age. I have as much experience as you do.” But that was simply false.
I had started my career when this person was still in elementary school.
Not surprisingly, this coworker chose shortly thereafter to move on to another field that did not require as much teachability for success.
You see, teachability starts and ends with humility.
An unteachable person may be arrogant, seeing herself as more capable or competent than she actually is, and believing her own perspective is more correct and important than that of other people’s.
She will not be able to grow because she will not value the wisdom of experience, and any instruction will be waved away
Or an unteachable person may be insecure, seeing himself as less capable than he is in reality.
He will not be able to grow because he will consider himself incapable of becoming the person he wants to be. He will disregard any guidance as impossible to implement.
But when we are teachable, we correctly see both our strengths and our weakness. We value the wisdom that comes from age and experience. We value the fresh insight from the young and inexperienced.
And we are willing and able to apply that wisdom and insight to our lives.
Teachability is about character, not personality
We often excuse a lack of teachability in someone by saying “they are independent”, or “they like to do things their own way”, or even, “they have to learn things the hard way.”
We aren’t doing them any favors. Anyone can be teachable, regardless of personality.
- Anyone can start with the assumption that they have something to learn.
- And anyone can learn to listen to wise counsel.
It’s a character thing.
And it can be learned
My daughter is not yet teachable, but she is improving. She now only thinks herself the equal of any adult about half the time! I have high hopes that in a few years the arrogance will only pop its head out after midnight.
If a 6 year old can learn to accept wisdom and instruction, so can we.