How to Learn From Others for Career Growth

Early in my career, I landed my dream job… and immediately felt like an imposter. On day 3, my new colleague, Rina, spotted an error in my strategic plan. My first instinct? → Defend myself. → Prove I belonged. → Protect my ego. Instead, I swallowed my pride and said: “Walk me through how you’d approach it differently.” That single conversation unlocked solutions I’d never have seen alone. Six months later, we co-led a project that saved the company $1.4M. Not because I knew more than her. But because I realized: ✅ Working with people smarter than you is a blessing, not a threat. Here’s what most leaders get wrong: • They think leadership is about being the authority in the room. • They worry that smarter colleagues will overshadow them. • They fear being seen as “less than” if they ask for help. But the highest-impact leaders I’ve coached share one trait: They’re fiercely coachable. → They seek out people who know more. → They treat differences as assets, not threats. → They let go of needing to be the hero. That’s how careers grow, not in certainty, but in curiosity. The C.H.O.I.C.E.™ Framework makes this real: • Courage: Ask, even when your ego screams “don’t.” • Humility: Recognize brilliance in others. • Openness: Let new ideas replace old assumptions. • Integration: Apply what you learn fast. • Curiosity: Keep asking “What else could be true?” • Empathy: Celebrate others’ strengths instead of competing. 🛠 3 Ways to Turn “Smarter People” into Your Career Advantage: ✅ Flip the script. → Instead of thinking “They’ll make me look bad,” ask: → “What could I learn from them that would take me years to figure out alone?” ✅ Invite co-creation. → Pull in the experts. → Say: “Can I get your eyes on this?” → Collaboration is rocket fuel for your influence. ✅ Say the magic words. → “I didn’t see that. Thanks for helping me get better.” → That’s leadership, not weakness. Here’s the truth no one wants to admit: If you’re always the smartest person in the room… you’re in the wrong room. 💭 Who’s the “smartest person” who made you better at your craft? ♻️ Tag someone who turns intelligence into collective wins. ➕ Follow Loren Rosario - Maldonado, PCC for human leadership.

The secret to accelerating your career isn't spamming mentors with cold DMs or wasting time with small talk at networking events. Instead, ask these 7 key questions to learn from the people ahead of you: 1. What is something most people think is important that I can skip entirely? As a beginner, everything looks important. But as you progress, you realize most things aren't. So instead of wasting your effort in dozens of directions, ask this to figure out what to avoid. 2. What part of your daily routine do you wish you had started sooner? People ahead of you got to where they are with simple daily actions compounded over time: • Figure out what they are • Build them into your days • And stick to them for years 3. What channels led to the building of your highest-quality relationships? It's cliché, but you are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with. But finding the right people isn't easy—unless you know where to look. So use this question to get some directions. 4. What is something you did differently than your peers 5 years ago that led to pushback, but served you in the long run? If you do what everyone else does, you can expect to achieve what everyone else achieves (mediocrity). Use this question to identify behaviors to shed. 5. What can I expect to struggle with along the way? Growth is having problems today you would have begged to have had years ago. So if you know which struggles are coming, you can prepare for them and continue to grow (which means unlocking new problems). 6. What is something you believed 5 years ago you had to "unlearn" to take the next step? Progress comes from the constant cycle of: • Identifying a bottleneck • Removing it • Repeat Most of the time, that bottleneck is a behavior or belief you have to "unlearn." 7. What's something you didn't pay enough attention to early on, then had to learn the hard way? Early on, you're flying blind. You don't even know what you don't know. So the faster you can uncover these blind spots, the faster you can improve.

Don’t listen to criticism from people you would never go to for advice. Read that again. Because this is where most careers quietly fall apart — not from failure, but from misdirection. From listening to the wrong voices. Think about it: ↳ The colleague who has never taken a real risk telling you your idea is too bold ↳ The manager who has stayed comfortable for years telling you to slow down ↳ The friend who has never built anything telling you it will not work That is not feedback. That is fear wearing a helpful mask. Here is what I have learned: The people worth listening to have three things in common: ↳ They have done what you are trying to do ↳ They tell you the truth, even when it is uncomfortable ↳ They genuinely want to see you grow Here is how you protect your career from the wrong voices: 1) Build your personal board of five ↳ Choose five people whose paths you truly respect ↳ If someone is not on that list, their opinion is just noise 2) Ask one question before reacting to criticism ↳ Would I trade careers with this person? ↳ If not, listen politely — then move forward 3) Separate feedback from projection ↳ Feedback: “Here is how you can improve” ↳ Projection: “I would never do that” 4) Check the source before you check yourself ↳ Look at what they have actually built ↳ Credibility matters more than confidence 5) Audit your influences regularly ↳ Who is shaping your thinking right now? ↳ Are they pushing you forward — or keeping you comfortable? The real danger of noise is not that it is loud. It is that it sounds reasonable. “Be realistic.” “That is not how things work.” “You should wait.” These are not always wisdom. Sometimes, they are comfort disguised as advice. Your career is too short to be shaped by people who have never shaped their own. Choose your critics as carefully as you choose your mentors. Who is someone whose feedback has genuinely made you better? ♻ Repost if this resonates ✅ Follow Sima A. for more insights on career growth and decision-making

If I was trying to figure out my next career move, here’s exactly what I’d do. 1 – Get feedback. Ask 5–10 people you’ve worked with: • What do I do best? • Where do I add the most value? • What skills should I double down on? • Where do you see my blind spots? Growth starts with perspective and others often see what we can’t. 2 – Audit your energy. For one week, track your tasks. Which ones drain you? Which ones light you up? Growth isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing more of the right things. 3 – Research like an insider. Follow people in the roles you want. Read industry news. Notice the skills and trends that keep surfacing. Growth happens faster when you know what the field values. 4 – Talk to people—curiously. Set a goal: one new conversation a week for the next month. Not “Do you have a job for me?” but: “I’m curious about your role, your industry, and how you got here.” Focus on people who either: • Have the kind of job you want, or • Work at companies you’d love to join. Curiosity kills the awkwardness because it’s about them, not your ask. 5 – Skill up with intention. Don’t chase every certification. Pick 1–2 areas that come up in both your feedback and your conversations. Growth isn’t about collecting badges. It’s about building the skills that matter most. 6 – Tell your story. Frame your experience as a growth story: where you started, what you’ve learned, what you’re building toward. That clarity makes people see your potential—and it keeps you moving forward. Because here’s the truth: clarity about what’s next doesn’t just drop out of the sky. It comes from doing the work of growth: listening, experimenting, reflecting, and repeating until the next step becomes obvious. That’s how I approach growth as a leader: not just developing myself, but equipping others to grow too. 📣 What would you add to this list? 📣 I’m Jessica, and I help leaders become more growth-oriented (for themselves and for their teams!). Follow along if you want more practical ways to grow yourself and the people you lead.

I offered my LinkedIn connections and my personal time to my entire network. Not one request. That tells me something. Do people really understand what they're giving up? You are not going to learn everything you need within the four walls of wherever you work. You need to get out. Read. Talk to professionals outside your world. And do it with humility — not as a performance, but because you're genuinely curious. Acting like you have it all figured out isn't confidence. It's the opposite. I once sat in a room with Judy Faulkner — CEO of Epic Systems, one of the most powerful people in healthcare. And what I walked away with had nothing to do with Epic. Or frankly why I was even there. It was a masterclass in how great leaders actually operate. She listened more than she spoke. She asked more questions than she answered. She had nothing to prove — not her intelligence, not her title, not her authority. She already had all of that. She was there to learn. That moment reinforced something I've seen consistently across the best leaders I've been around. The ones at the top aren't performing. They're absorbing. That's the move. Get out there. Engage. Be genuinely curious about people and ideas beyond your immediate lane. The professionals who grow fastest aren't the ones who think they have everything they need. They're the ones who know they don't. And they do something about it.

Not so long ago, I was convinced I had the recipe for career growth—report to whoever is highest on the org chart, as high as you can get. Crush that role. Move up. I figured it was a simple equation. Higher-up manager = more to learn from = more growth opportunity = more positional power. Like many fiercely held beliefs in my early 20s, life experience would teach me that this was an egregious oversimplification. The truth is, if I could do it all over again, firstly, I would seek out reporting to whoever aligns the most with your professional and personal values. From there, you want to see how well they advocate for their team and navigate conflict. It doesn't matter whether they're a C-Level or a frontline manager; it will be tough sledding if those things don't line up. Secondly, I would spend more time around respected leaders from other departments and observe how they move. At Egnyte, the more cross-functional projects and stakeholders I work with, the more I can absorb other methods of getting sh*t done from various departments. I've noticed an uptick in my professional acumen simply by getting involved with an open mind and being keen to learn. I had my chance to do this at Adobe, too. I was too busy being an arrogant 22-year-old hotshot, thinking I knew everything because I read it on SalesHacker or TechTarget and was above quota. The blessing of early success becomes a curse when blinded by hubris. So, if you're early in your career and want to learn from my many mistakes (and indeed, there are many), focus on finding environments where you feel supported and can learn a lot. Bring a disposition of being open to learning and opportunity rather than disenfranchisement because someone you know got promoted before you did. Don't worry about who else is getting what job or paycheck; just worry about getting better each day. Career growth, it turns out, is about something other than how fast you get promoted compared to peers. It's about how much you learn and can implement over the long term. You can lose out on learning by tunnel-visioning earning, but you're only increasing potential earning by focusing on learning. That's my take. #careergrowth #personalgrowth #runyourrace

As a founder, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is this:  “𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔; 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕.” When you’re building a career—or even building a company—it’s easy to slip into comparison mode. You see someone who knows more, has more experience, or seems “ahead,” and instead of learning from them, you feel threatened. But here’s the truth: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲. Here’s how to shift your mindset and thrive by learning from those around you: 1️⃣ 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ↳ Other people’s skills don’t diminish your value. ↳ Their strengths can highlight gaps you can learn from and improve on. 2️⃣ 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭 ↳ Pay attention to how successful leaders make decisions, handle challenges, or communicate with their teams. ↳ Real-world examples are often better than any textbook. 3️⃣ 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 ↳ Don’t be afraid to ask questions—even simple ones. ↳ Seeking clarity shows confidence, not weakness. 4️⃣ 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 ↳ Partnering with smart people expands your reach and impact. ↳ Remember: the biggest wins often come from collective effort, not solo work. 5️⃣ 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 ↳ Wisdom is useless unless you act on it. ↳ Test what you’ve learned, adapt it, and make it part of your toolkit. ------ 📌 P.S. In business and in your career, you’ll go further when you stop competing with everyone and start learning from them. ⛔️ Don’t see others as threats. ⛔️ Don’t ignore the lessons right in front of you. ⛔️ Don’t underestimate the power of shared wisdom. What’s one piece of advice you’ve learned from someone else that’s shaped your career? Share below!⬇️ ---------- 📌 Follow me Gav Blaxberg for more content like this. ♻ 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share with your network ♻

Learn from the best, guide the rest. If you’re only focused on connecting with people ahead of you, you’re missing half the equation. The best way to grow your career? Surround yourself with those who’ve already been where you’re trying to go while also mentoring those following in your footsteps. ▪️ Network Up – Connect with people who are where you want to be. Engage with top performers, decision-makers, and industry leaders. Their insights, opportunities, and experience can fast-track your success. ▪️ Mentor Down – Help those a step or two behind you. Offer guidance, answer questions, and be the resource you wish you had early in your career. You’ll sharpen your leadership skills and build relationships that could pay off in unexpected ways. How to get started ... 💥 Identify 3-5 industry leaders you admire ... engage with their content, comment thoughtfully, and start a conversation. 💥 Offer advice to a junior colleague, mentee, or even someone on LinkedIn looking for guidance. 💥 Use LinkedIn to do both. Connect with mentors, share insights, and position yourself as a leader while still learning. The best careers are built on both learning and teaching. Network up. Mentor down. Keep growing. Onward & Upward Consulting

Most career opportunities are never advertised. And yet, many professionals still spend hours sending CVs into the void, hoping for a response. Early in my career, I made the same mistake. I believed that the harder I worked on tailoring my applications, the better my chances. Don't get me wrong, it works to a degree but it isn't the whole package. What I didn’t realise was that I was competing with hundreds of others for the same few roles. The breakthrough came when I shifted my focus from job boards to people. I remember reaching out to someone in an organisation I admired, asking for a short conversation. That 15 minutes changed everything. Not only did I get insights into the role, but I built a relationship that eventually led to an opportunity I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Here’s what I’ve learned about creating opportunities through connection: 👉🏿 Curate your environment – Surround yourself with professionals, mentors, and peers who align with your career goals. Follow their work, learn from their insights, and engage genuinely. 👉🏿 Converse with purpose Don’t lead with “I need a job.” Instead, ask thoughtful questions, share your perspective, and show curiosity. Conversations should feel like two-way learning. 👉🏿 Demonstrate value Be ready to share clear examples of the problems you’ve solved, the actions you’ve taken, and the results you’ve produced. Stories matter more than bullet points. 👉🏿 Expand your community After meaningful conversations, ask who else they recommend you speak with. One introduction often leads to another. 👉🏿 Prioritise relationships over transactions People remember how you made them feel, not just what you said. Build trust, not just contacts. The lesson is simple: your next opportunity is more likely to come through connection than competition. How are you building meaningful professional relationships this year? Comment below 👇🏿 Join my ‘Consultant Mindset’ newsletter here 👉🏿 ⁠https://lnkd.in/eHyiwsmj #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #NetworkingStrategies