Learning is lifelong… whether you want it to be or not.

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Subject: Learning is lifelong… whether you want it to be or not.

Learning is Lifelong

Whether you want it to be or not!

Hey Friend

Fortunately for me, I love learning.

Give me something new, interesting or thought-provoking and connect it to something I care about, and I’ll happily dive down the rabbit hole.

People like me are what psychologists call “toward motivated.” We’re driven by moving toward something - growth, opportunity, ideas, improvement.

Point me toward something meaningful and I’ll do the rest.

But not everyone is wired this way.

Some people are primarily “away motivated.” They move away from pain rather than toward possibility. They’ll change when the discomfort becomes big enough, but not necessarily before that.

Neither is right or wrong. But as leaders, understanding the difference matters.

Trying to motivate someone who is away-motivated using the language of possibility, growth and opportunity often falls flat. The narrative needs to be different.

One of the most common frustrations I hear from senior leaders is how hard it can be to motivate others to keep learning - particularly when the pace of change keeps accelerating.

And yet the reality is that learning is no longer optional.

Technology, AI and shifting business models are forcing every industry to evolve. The leaders and teams who stay curious will adapt. Those who don’t will eventually feel the pressure of being left behind.

I had a great conversation recently with Serena Gonsalves-Fersch about this very topic. One thing she said stayed with me: leadership development should begin the moment someone enters an organisation - not years later when they’re about to be promoted.

I’d take that even further.

Learning how to lead ourselves - our thinking, our behaviour, our impact on others - is something that should start much earlier in life.

Because the capabilities that matter most in the future of leadership aren’t technical ones.

They’re human ones.

Instinct. Intuition. Imagination. Integrity. Innovation.

And those qualities aren’t developed in a one-day workshop. They evolve through reflection, curiosity and a willingness to keep learning.

Great leaders understand this.

They continue to invest in their own development, and they learn how to motivate others differently - sometimes by pointing to opportunity, sometimes by highlighting consequences, but always by helping people connect with what truly matters to them.

Because the most powerful motivation will always come from within.

If you’re looking to strengthen the learning mindset and motivation of your leadership team, I’d love to talk about my facilitated leadership programs.

Book a conversation here.

Shelley 😁

Shelley Flett.

Leadership Trainer, Facilitator & Coach | Shelley Flett Pty Ltd

M: 0407 522 888 | E: shelley@shelleyflett.com | W: shelleyflett.com

The greatest risk for organisations today isn’t lack of strategy.
It’s leaders and teams who stop learning.

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Subject: Learning is lifelong… whether you want it to be or not.

Learning is Lifelong

Whether you want it to be or not!