There’s a certain buzz that comes with the back-to-school season. You may still be sweating in the summer sun, but you can almost smell that crisp fall air that makes you want to indulge in memories of new backpacks, new homerooms, new friends and new challenges. It’s a time of fresh starts and the excitement of learning.

While most of us have left our school days far (far, far, FAR) behind, the truth is, as leaders in business, we’re never really done with "school." In fact, the best leaders are the ones who approach each day with a mindset of continuous learning. So, what does it really mean to "go back to school" in your leadership? Let’s dive in.

The essential subject: lifelong learning (taken slow)

In today’s fast-paced business environment, staying still is just not an option. The marketplace is constantly shifting, and to remain competitive, leaders must be agile, adaptive, and always learning. This doesn’t just mean keeping up with industry trends—it's about developing the skills to navigate uncertainty, to innovate, and to inspire.

But even as we strive to stay sharp, reading voraciously, joining masterminds, and asking questions, one of the most important lessons we can take from the back-to-school mentality is this: don't bite off more than you can chew.

The danger is what we like to call "idea whiplash." It’s easy to get excited about every new bestseller, TED Talk, or HBR article, or to try to implement multiple fresh new strategies at once. However, as we’ve learned, success often comes from the discipline of digesting ideas slowly and sticking to what’s essential.

Here at Acumen, our teams walk through leadership books together thoughtfully over several months, engaging in meaningful dialogue and practical application rather than trying to artificially pack in learning at lightning speed. It's the opposite of those apps (I'm sure you've seen an ad like this recently) that promise to make you the smartest or most interesting person in the room by distilling hundreds of pages of learning into bite-sized snippets for you. Come on; stop selling us the junky energy drink equivalent of learning. Let's get back to learning that's mindful and deliberate, like a tasty AND nutritious meal should be.

Our advice: learn from the unexpected

With that reminder to take it slow and stick to the essentials... where SHOULD you look for your "curriculum" for continuous learning? Sure, there are loads of business leadership books and publications out there, but we'd argue that sometimes the best lessons come from the most unexpected places—places you'll only find by having a rich, full personal life outside of your work.

Take our CEO Dan Cooper's love of Rick Rubin's podcast as an example. Rubin is a legendary music producer who’s also a fountain of wisdom for leaders, and Dan was able to generate this incredible blog post a couple years ago by distilling some incredible leadership lessons he took away just by listening to Rubin's podcast.

As you consider how you want to learn and grow this year, think outside the box! Great ideas often come from unlikely sources, and we should be seeking wisdom outside our comfort zones and professional circles. Chat with the guys on your pickleball team, even the elementary school art teacher or the retired army colonel—you never know how those conversations might get you thinking. Let yourself lean into your love of old movies again, take nature walks with the hobby naturalist in your life, read a fiction book just for fun. Life is full of learning. (Just promise us you won't make up "real-life" scenarios to illustrate any forced lessons you want to share on LinkedIn. You're better than that.)

Creating a leadership learning plan

So, as we step into this new season, what’s your learning plan? Just like students need a syllabus to guide their studies, leaders need a plan to guide their growth. Take a moment to reflect on your own learning habits—when was the last time you learned something new, not just out of necessity, but out of curiosity and passion?

Consider setting aside time to dive into some fresh material—whether it’s reading a book, listening to a podcast, or even attending a workshop. And don’t forget the power of learning from your peers. Joining a group like Acumen, where you can share insights, challenges, and successes with other leaders, can be incredibly valuable. The support and ideas that come from such a network are often the spark needed to ignite new growth.

Never stop learning

The journey of leadership is one of continuous growth, and the best way to ensure that growth is to embrace the mindset of a lifelong learner. So, as the school year kicks off, let’s commit to "going back to school" in our own way—whether that means diving into new ideas, learning from unexpected places, or simply challenging ourselves to do hard things. After all, the best leaders are those who never stop learning.

Ready to hit the books? We'd love to be a part of your next lesson.