August Be Series: BE a Student — Embrace Learning to Lead Better

August’s BE Series session focused on a powerful theme: being a student. In sales and sales management, it’s easy to think experience alone makes us effective. But the truth is, growth happens when we keep learning—staying curious, humble, and willing to practice. Here are four lessons we explored this month.

Cultivate a Beginner’s Mind

Certainty is the enemy of growth. When we think we already know it all, we stop learning. A beginner’s mind means showing up curious and open—whether in a sales call or a team meeting.

One of the best reminders: every sales interaction is either commission or tuition. If you don’t earn the sale, you’d better be learning something. That mindset transforms losses into lessons and keeps you moving forward.

For sales managers, this also means modeling what you expect. If your team resists new practices, ask yourself—am I demonstrating the very behavior I want from them?

Elevate Awareness

As learners, we’re quick to say, “Oh, that’s just like…” and relate new information to what we already know. But doing that too soon shuts down discovery. Elevating awareness means noticing when you slip into comparison—and choosing instead to stay present, curious, and open.

This applies in coaching too. Instead of telling someone what to do, ask:

• “What’s in the way for you right now?”

• “What obstacles are making this difficult?”

The more awareness we bring—of ourselves, our triggers, and our blind spots—the better we can coach and connect.

Consider Simple Solutions

As adults, we often overcomplicate learning. But the most effective growth usually comes from small, repeatable actions.

Try this: choose one simple practice you and your team can commit to daily. Maybe it’s one specific discovery question with every customer, or one coaching check-in per day. Over time, simple practices compound into meaningful results.

And don’t underestimate the role of fun—songs, games, or even creative experiments. The more engaging and memorable the practice, the more it sticks.

Commit to Continuous Learning

James Clear put it best: “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

If your goal is to raise close ratios, improve coaching, or strengthen leadership, ask yourself:

• What’s the learning system to support that?

• Are you scheduling time for your own growth?

• Are you designing team training that meets different learning styles—visual, auditory, kinesthetic?

Learning isn’t a one-time event. It’s a system of consistent practice, reinforcement, and progress.

Why This Matters

When leaders embrace being students, they create an environment where learning is safe, expected, and shared. By practicing curiosity, choosing simple solutions, and committing to continuous growth, sales managers and teams alike get better—together.

The key isn’t perfection. It’s progress. And progress is what drives results, confidence, and long-term success.

Now, go practice being a student—today.

oxo
Jody