Comments on: Be Teachable, Be Command-able, Be Critique-able

By: Jessy Houle

Jessy Houle — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:55:48 +0000

In reply to jsonmez. John, that is also a great book. I read that one very early on in life. Keep up the great posts!

By: jsonmez

jsonmez — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:35:53 +0000

In reply to Jessy Houle. Thanks, I appreciate the encouragement. I will heck into that book and article. Sounds interesting. Have you ever read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie? Also a great book, one of my favorites.

By: Jessy Houle

Jessy Houle — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:51:26 +0000

First, thank you for the great post. Second, there is a great book that distills your post into two types of people… Fixed mindset and growth mindset. The book is “Mindset” by Carol S. Dweck. Basically, the fixed mindset people are more ego centric; worried more about ego then learning. Whereas the growth mindset people are less concerned about ego, but more concerned about bettering themselves; learning from others. Another great read on this topic is an article from Malcolm Gladwell titled “The Talent Myth.” Both are worth a read as a supplement to your great post. Again, thank you!

By: bvh

bvh — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:51:41 +0000

Nice post. I guess we like to be good so badly that these things aren’t always easy.

By: jsonmez

jsonmez — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:23:03 +0000

In reply to Nathan Gloyn.

You make a good point. I should have clarified a bit more. I saw two things in that example:
1. He was not blocking any learning, because he wasn’t insisting on what he already knew. People tend to stop teaching as soon as someone says “yeah, yeah, I know that.” He may have even been reabsorbing some basics that had become rusty or forgotten. Nothing wrong with a little review every once in a while.
2. There were some going points that he was taking in. Even though the commentator might have been less experienced, he still had something of value to offer.

I also like you description of teachable. To answer your question, I think it depends on the context.

By: Nathan Gloyn

Nathan Gloyn — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:17:10 +0000

I’m not sure I agree with your definition of teachable.

You state that the player, our hero, was as at least as experience if not more so that the commentator. That being so is he really being taught? with the commentator “telling him” basic things that he should be doing it would seem more like patience in not telling the commentator to “stop teaching his granny how to suck eggs”

For me teachable is about being open to the possibility that you don’t know everything and other people and the humility to be ask them to show you what you don’t know but if they are simply telling you what you already know is it not a waste of energy for both parties?