The Subtle Superpower Behind Every Great Learner
What Michael Jordan, straight-A students, and visionary leaders all have in common.
Welcome to Linked And Lift, your weekly guide to leadership, learning, and leveling up. This week, we’re talking about a game-changing trait that can accelerate your growth faster than intelligence, confidence, or even hard work.
I’m always refining this newsletter to make sure you get the most useful, relevant insights for your growth.
Take 15 seconds here to make sure the next editions speak directly to you.
The One Skill That Accelerates Everything
Fun Fact:
Michael Jordan was famously coachable, even at the peak of his career.
Despite being the best in the game, he constantly asked questions, sought feedback, and updated his thinking.
What’s in store this week:
The surprising superpower that fuels both student success and executive growth.
5 habits teachable people master.
Action plan: How to cultivate radical teachability.
🕒 Read Time: 5 minutes
The One Skill That Accelerates Both Leadership and Learning
There’s a skill that quietly influences how quickly we grow as leaders.
It’s the same skill that helps some students reach A* grades while others plateau at B.
And after 14+ years working with ambitious high schoolers and women leaders, I’ve noticed something surprising:
It’s not intelligence.
It’s not confidence.
It’s not even hard work.
The One Skill That Accelerates Everything is:
🧠 Teachability.
Not talent. Not charisma. Not working 16-hour days. But the courage to be coachable.
Whether you’re building a personal brand, managing a team, or mentoring your high- schooler through exam stress, this skill is your edge.
What I’ve Learned From 100+ Student Success Stories
After supporting students preparing for (I)GCSE, A-Level, and IB French exams, a clear pattern emerged:
The learners who earn A–A* grades aren’t always the naturally gifted ones.
They’re the ones who are open, willing to learn, to ask, to try again.
The student who says,
“I’m still confused about the subjunctive”
often progresses more than the one who quietly tries to keep up without asking.
Not because one is smarter, but because clarity opens the door to progress.
We can’t improve something we don’t acknowledge.
And that truth applies just as much in our careers as it does in a French classroom.
What Teachable People Do Differently
Let’s break down five habits of teachable people that you (and your high schooler) can borrow right now:
1. They Ask Questions. Even the “Obvious” Ones
They’re not afraid to pause and say, “Can we go over that again?”
They know that clarity is more valuable than pretending to understand.
In business, that might sound like:
👉 “Can you walk me through that example once more?”
In French class:
👉 “Why do we use ‘être’ here instead of ‘avoir’?”
What might feel like a “silly” question is often the exact moment real learning clicks into place.
2. They Welcome Feedback, Not Just Praise
Teachable people don’t take feedback as a personal attack.
They take it as an opportunity.
When I review a student’s essay and point out a grammar gap, the ones who grow the fastest usually say:
👉 “Thanks! Can you show me how to improve it?”
It’s the same with the founders I work with on LinkedIn strategy.
When we adjust their messaging, they lean in; with curiosity, not resistance.
3. They Seek Out Smart, Challenging Rooms
They don’t need to be the most experienced voice in the room.
They choose to be around people who help them grow.
When I was working in schools, my students who studied with peers slightly ahead of them tended to accelerate faster, because they’re being stretched, not just supported.
In leadership, it’s the same: growth comes from conversations that expand your thinking.
4. They Update Their Beliefs
“I’m not a language person.”
“I’m too old for social media.”
“I don’t get tech.”
Teachable people replace outdated stories with upgraded thinking.
They don’t hold onto old stories about what they’re “good at” or “not good at.”
I’ve seen students go from “I’m just not a language person” to thriving at top universities like Dartmouth.
What shifted?
Not their ability, but their belief about what was possible.
As a founder or leader, that same shift is available to you.
Strategies that got you here may not get you where you’re going.
And that’s not failure. It’s evolution.
5. They Stay Curious, No Matter Their Experience
You can have 20 years of experience, or 1 year, repeated 20 times.
Teachable people stay curious. They ask what’s new.
They question what they already know.
My strongest French students don’t settle at “good enough.”
They stay curious, seeking nuance, precision, and mastery.
The Moment Growth Begins
Whether you’re a founder clarifying your personal brand or your high school son or daughter is trying to master the subjunctive …
Real progress begins not when you have all the answers, but when you say:
“I don’t know this yet, but I’m ready to learn.”
Because being teachable is the foundation of real confidence.
That vulnerability - that willingness to be taught..
is what transforms struggling students into A* achievers.
It’s what turns invisible founders into recognized thought leaders.
It’s what helps experienced professionals continue to evolve instead of plateau.
Action Plan: Cultivating Radical Teachability
Ask a “dumb” question this week, even if you fear it makes you look inexperienced.
Invite feedback, and don’t defend it. Just listen.
Read or watch something that challenges your worldview.
Bonus: Reflect on what it shifted for you.Catch a limiting belief in action and reframe it:
“I’m not good at this… yet.”
Find a stretch circle.
Join a group where you feel slightly out of your depth. That’s where growth lives.
Linked & Lift Picks
Podcast: Coaching for Leaders – Ep. 598: How to Receive Feedback Gracefully
Quote:
“You can’t learn anything when you’re busy being right.” – Unknown
Closing Thought
Teachable doesn’t mean weak. It means wise.
When you stop protecting your ego and start protecting your potential, everything changes.
It’s how you go from unseen to unforgettable. From stuck to soaring.
Whether you’re 17 or 47, this week, choose to be taught.
📩 Share the Lift: Know someone who needs this message? Share this newsletter with them to help them.
⭐ Rate This Edition: Your feedback shapes Linked And Lift! Let me know what you want to see more of.
👉 Think back to someone you learned deeply from.
What made it work?
What did they help you unlock?
👇 Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.
And thank you for being a part of our Linked And Lift community!
Until next time,
Veronique Barrot
Founder, Linked And Lift
Coaching leaders to grow inside out.
Follow me on LinkedIn where I share self-leadership and growth insights Monday to Friday.