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Writer's pictureLindsay Sheldrake

Diary of a Leader: Why Turning Learning Into Action Defines Great Leadership

Welcome to "Diary of a Leader" - Real Stories, Leadership Lessons, and Personal Growth

 
Leadership lesson
"Diary of a Leader" - Why Turning Learning Into Action Defines Great Leadership


Ah, leadership! The thrilling, heart-racing journey of ups, downs, and all the delightful chaos in between.


Welcome to "Diary of a Leader," where I peel back the curtain on the good, the bad, and the downright awkward moments of being a leader.






And today, I’m serving up a leadership lesson that I think many of us can relate to—the danger of over-learning.


Let’s start with a little context: I am a lifelong learner. Books, podcasts, panels, webinars—if there’s a way to soak up knowledge, I’m all in. But here’s the thing I’ve come to realize: the point of learning isn’t to collect knowledge like trophies. The real magic lies in applying what you’ve learned.


Yet, there was a time not too long ago when I lost sight of this and fell into what I call “the learning trap.”


 

The Learning Trap: When Knowledge Becomes Overwhelming


Last year, I was preparing to work with a company that wanted to integrate its business units toward a shared goal. On the surface, it seemed straightforward. But as I reviewed their values, I noticed something alarming—they didn’t reflect anything “shared.”


  • No mention of teamwork.

  • No commitment to collaboration.

  • No acknowledgment of collective effort.


I immediately felt stuck. How could I help them integrate as a team when their core values didn’t reflect unity?


Instead of pausing and trusting myself, I panicked. I turned to books.


Within a week, I had ordered six business books from Amazon, convinced one of them would hold the magic answer. But as they arrived, something dawned on me: the answers weren’t in the books—they were already in me. I just didn’t trust myself enough to see it.


Eventually, I stopped, took a breath, and reminded myself of the tools, skills, and experiences I already had. I didn’t need more knowledge; I needed to act.



The Pattern: Why Over-Learning Leads to Inaction


When we’re overwhelmed, it’s tempting to think the solution is more knowledge. We convince ourselves that one more book or one more course will provide the clarity we need.


But here’s the truth: overloading yourself with external resources can lead to analysis paralysis. The more you learn without applying, the harder it becomes to act.


Instead of building confidence, you start to feel like you’re chasing an endless list of things you “should” know. That’s the danger of the learning trap—it keeps you stuck.


To move forward, you need to balance learning with action. Learn, integrate, and repeat until it becomes second nature.



The Overwhelmed Expert: A Mirror and a Reminder


This lesson came full circle recently in a conversation with a colleague.

We were discussing time management, and they excitedly recommended the Eisenhower Matrix—a prioritization tool to decide what to do, delegate, delete, or schedule. A brilliant strategy.


But here’s the twist: just a week earlier, this same colleague had admitted feeling completely overwhelmed by their workload. Despite knowing the tool, they hadn’t used it when they needed it most.


This moment struck me. It was a reflection of my own journey—the times I’d learned strategies, only to forget them in moments of stress.


That conversation reminded me of how far I’d come—and how far I could have gone sooner if I’d been more intentional about applying what I’d learned. It’s not about what you know; it’s about what you use to inform your actions and behaviors.



Why This Matters for Leaders


As leaders, we often feel like we need to have all the answers. But leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about taking the first step, even when the path is uncertain.


When we fail to apply what we’ve learned, we risk losing clarity, momentum, and even trust. Worse yet, we risk becoming overwhelmed experts—full of knowledge but unable to act when it counts.



Breaking Free: How to Balance Learning and Doing


Here’s what I’ve learned about escaping the learning trap:


Set an Intention for Your Learning - Before you dive into a book, course, or strategy, ask yourself:

  • Why is this important to me?

  • What do I hope to gain?


Having a clear purpose will keep you focused and ensure the learning serves a specific goal.


Learn, Integrate, Repeat - Think of learning as a cycle:

  • Learn: Absorb the knowledge.

  • Integrate: Apply it to your work or life.

  • Repeat: Practice until it becomes second nature.


This cycle turns knowledge into action and action into growth.


Act First, Learn Along the Way - Sometimes, the best way to learn is by doing. Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Take the first step, trust your instincts, and adjust as you go.


Let Go of Perfectionism - You don’t need to master everything before you start. Remember, the goal isn’t to know it all—it’s to use what you know to move forward.



Wrapping Up (Because Time is Precious)


Here’s the takeaway: Learning is powerful, but only if you use it. If you’re constantly consuming knowledge without integrating it, you’ll end up stuck in the learning trap—full of potential but unable to act.


So, the next time you’re tempted to dive into another book or course, pause. Ask yourself:


  • How will I apply this?

  • What will I do differently because of it?


Remember, learning isn’t the goal. Growth is. And growth only happens when you take what you’ve learned and put it into action.


Catch you next time, fellow leaders-in-training—and remember, knowledge isn’t power until it’s applied.


Leadership
Intentional Learning at Tedx Talks Calgary event.

Stay tuned for more reflections and lessons from the trenches of leadership in the next installment of


"Diary of a Leader"






 

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