When the Student Is Ready, the Teacher Will Show Up

Years ago, I worked with a manager whose leadership style challenged me.

At first, I saw her as demanding.

I resisted her feedback and quietly labeled her expectations as “too much.”

But when I stopped defending myself and started listening, something shifted.

I realized she was not trying to frustrate me, she was stretching me.

The lessons I once resisted became preparation for opportunities I later stepped into.

The teacher had been there all along.

I was the one who finally became ready.

Readiness Is More Than a Mindset

Readiness is not merely a mindset.

It is a pattern of behavior - how we respond to correction, discomfort, and unfamiliar perspectives.

If you want to posture yourself as teachable:

1. Replace defensiveness with curiosity.

Before explaining yourself, ask: “What can I learn from this?”

2. Seek feedback before you need it.

Do not wait for a performance review. Ask trusted people: “What is one behavior that could limit my growth?”

3. Turn insight into visible action.

A lesson is not learned because you agree with it.

It is learned when your behavior changes.

The mentor, opportunity, book, conversation, or experience that unlocks your next level may already be in front of you.

The question is: Are you ready to be taught?

BISOLA MOGAJI