To say I was surprised by Ron’s call is an understatement; amazed by the call and its content is a much better description. 
Ron, the director of operations for a Midwest company, had been a member of an executive team I worked with three years ago. He also happened to be a leader I didn’t think would be promoted to CEO or succeed if he were to be promoted. I was wrong.
When I first met Ron, I thought he was too close-minded to be a successful CEO. In addition, he scored low in a few critical visionary and empowering leadership competencies. Nevertheless, here it was three years later and Ron was telling me about his positive experience as CEO and inviting me to work with him again.
I reviewed his old, 26-page XLM report after we completed the call. I wanted to see if the report contained any clues about Ron’s success. I found it in Section IV, among the Great Eight Leadership Skills. Although Ron may have had a few areas he needed to work on, he scored very high in the one skill that best predicts success after promotion – high performing learner.
In many organizations, executives promote their high performing leaders. The research says they should promote their high performing learners instead. While both perform their responsibilities very well, high performing learners consistently:
1. Take responsibility for their own learning, instead of waiting for their organization to educate them.
2. Acquire new skills and apply them in challenging situations.
3. Treat setbacks as learning opportunities.
4. Solicit constructive feedback from diverse sources.
In a follow-up conversation, I asked Ron what he thought contributed to his success. He stated that he kept the XLM on his desk and used it every day for the last three years. He was convinced it helped him become a much more effective leader. I reminded him that although using the XLM may have helped him achieve a promotion, it was probably his skill as a high performing learner that helped him succeed after the promotion.
If you want a promotion, take the XLM and grow your leadership competencies. If you want to succeed after your promotion, ask yourself if you’re a high performing learner or ‘merely’ a high performing leader?
Keep stretching when you’re pulled,
Dave
Dave Jensen helps leaders manage ambiguity, gain buy-in to any change, improve decision-making, and achieve difficult goals in today’s complex, competitive, and conflicting environment. For a FREE Chapter or to purchase his newly released groundbreaking book that helps executives and managers develop business-boosting skills, The Executive’s Paradox – How to Stretch When You’re Pulled by Opposing Demands, visit http://davejensenonleadership.com/
