The Willingness to Learn

More and more, we are learning about the people who are inspired to build people-centered company cultures and regenerative workplaces across the sectors. We are everywhere! This month we’re featuring Ray Dalio, billionaire investor and founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund. 

One of the most important elements of sharing leadership is the willingness to learn. Mistakes are how we learn! In our workplace, we believe the commonly held mindset and definition of “failure” is a great illusion. We don’t believe that there are failures. In every moment, no matter the outcome, there is a chance to learn. Dalio agrees and puts his beliefs into practice.

When faced with a critique of his interpersonal skills (or lack thereof) as a leader & manager back in 1993, Dalio developed a company culture based on recurring lessons, frank feedback, and radical transparency. This company code of ethics later formed the basis of his bestselling book, Principles: Life & Work. 

“The key is to fail, learn, and improve quickly. If you’re constantly learning and improving, your evolutionary process will be ascending. I believe that evolving is life’s greatest accomplishment and its greatest reward.”

― Ray Dalio

When we relate to one another first as equal learning partners — before seeing each other first through our roles, status, or expertise — we create the opportunity for collective growth and wisdom to emerge. By creating a culture where mistakes were not only expected but actively accepted (and learned from), Dalio developed an environment where meaningful relationships and meaningful work go hand-in-hand. 

Now, nearly 50 years after the founding of Bridgewater, Ray Dalio is regarded as one of the greatest innovators in the finance world, and regularly appears on lists of the world’s most influential people. 

Make Dalio's wisdom a practice of team reflection: What mistakes did your team make in 2021, how are you embracing them and what can you learn from them? Together, write down how you’ll apply those lessons going forward in 2022. Turn back to your learning in a few months. How have you integrated your learning from last year?

Here’s to embracing our full selves and learning from everything, together.