The Power of Ako: Leadership Through Learning

When we think of a “leader,” our minds often go straight to the top: the CEO of a global corporation, the Prime Minister of a nation, or the coach of a national sports team. Even the Oxford Dictionary reinforces this, defining a leader as “the person who leads or commands a group, organisation or country.” This narrow lens limits leadership to a privileged minority, rather than recognising it as a quality that everyone can and should exercise.

If we shift our focus to the definition of leadership itself—”to influence, inspire, and guide individuals toward a shared vision”—the landscape changes. One of the core pillars of leadership is empowerment. From this perspective, I believe that we are all leaders.

Shifting from Deficit to Abundance

We all possess unique qualities and life experiences that others can benefit from. Yet, it is incredibly easy to fall into the trap of a “deficit mindset,” focusing on the skills and capabilities we lack when comparing ourselves to others. Psychologist Carol Dweck highlights this in her work on the Growth Mindset (Dweck, 2006). A fixed mindset suggests that leadership is an innate talent you either have or you don’t. In contrast, a growth mindset reminds us that leadership is a capacity we develop through effort, learning and lived experience. It is far more challenging, but infinitely more rewarding, to identify our inherent strengths and focus on the value we bring to our everyday environments. As glocal citizens (think globally, act locally), we have a duty to start each day looking for opportunities to contribute from our positive attributes.

The Wisdom of Ako

In Te Reo Māori, the word ako holds a beautiful dual meaning: it means both to learn and to teach. This concept aligns closely with what educational researcher Russell Bishop describes as ‘reciprocal pedagogy’, the idea that the roles of teacher and student are interchangeable (Bishop and Berryman, 2006). For this blog, I am extending the definition of ako to include leadership. In its broadest sense, to teach is to empower, and to empower is to lead.

In our modern Western world, we have become increasingly individualised and isolated. We have created a culture that celebrates fame, where those at the top often feel pressured to have all the answers. This ego-driven approach creates a barrier to true growth. By embracing the spirit of ako, we acknowledge that to be a great leader, one must be a life-long learner.

Humility is a core dimension of ako. The western world celebrates a culture of experts, however, there is a quiet power in the phrase “I don’t know, tell me what you think”. When we set aside the need to be the person with all the answers, we create the space necessary for others to grow. We stop being a bottleneck and start being a bridge for others potential. The ego seeks to be right, but the leader seeks to get it right.

A friend was telling me about an experience they had when helping to organize a community event. As someone with event planning experience, they felt the pressure to have all the answers. But halfway through the planning, they hit a wall with how to make the event accessible and welcoming for their diverse community members. They explained they could have pushed through alone, researching best practices late into the night, trying to maintain the illusion of competence. Instead, they reached out to a neighbour who had been quietly observing the planning meetings and simply said, ‘I’m stuck. Can you look at this with me?’ Not only did she offer insights they would never have considered but the conversation sparked ideas for improving other aspects of the event. My friends admission of ‘I don’t know’ didn’t diminish the communities view of their competence, it created space for collaboration that made the entire event stronger and more genuinely inclusive.

This type of leadership doesn’t require a podium. It happens in micro moments of our day such as:

• Listening to understand, rather than listening to reply
• Admitting a mistake openly, which gives others permission to be human, too
• Asking for help, which transforms a task into a collaborative opportunity

The next time you look in the mirror, don’t just see a follower or a face in the crowd. See the leader who can influence, the learner who can grow, and the person who has something unique to contribute. When we embrace the humility to learn and the courage to lead, we realise that the most important person we will ever lead is ourselves.

Remember to add your email to subscribe. You will receive an email in your inbox to confirm.