Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Says What Defines Successful People Simply Comes Down to 3 Words

When Nadella became boss in 2014, Microsoft had problems. The company wasn't growing, and people weren't working well together. In his 2017 book, Hit Refresh, he says his first big job was to change the company's way of thinking. 

He wanted to move from a "know-it-all" attitude, where workers tried to show they were always right, to a "learn-it-all" attitude that valued being curious, understanding others, working together, and getting better.

This change came from the work of Carol Dweck, who talked about having a "growth mindset.  Using this idea has made Microsoft workers more excited and productive.

A few years ago, Nadella told professor Adam Grant:

"Think about two students -- one is naturally smarter, and the other isn't. The less smart one, if they always try to learn, will end up doing better. This is true for bosses and companies. We can't act like we know everything; we have to always try to learn."

Nadella said it's important to always learn by understanding what customers need and by trying to be a better leader and create a better work environment.

There are many ways to use a learn-it-all attitude to do better than other companies. Here are four ways to do it:

Promote an environment where employees feel safe sharing ideas, asking questions, and admitting when they don't know something. This openness can lead to better ideas and teamwork. Nadella also told workers to see every problem as a chance to learn, making them stronger and more creative.

Curiosity is a fundamental human trait that drives exploration, innovation, learning, and the desire to understand the world around us. 

In psychologically safe workplaces, curious people are important for new ideas. By asking questions and seeking answers, curious people want to challenge what we know and find better solutions. This often leads to discovering new perspectives, insights, and opportunities.

The key: Notice and reward workers who are curious and willingness to explore new ideas. This makes people want to do it more and shows others that always trying to learn is important.

Be willing to change based on new information and insights. The learn-it-all approach needs you to be flexible and ready to change when needed. This is very important in today's fast-changing world of technology.

As a leader, show the learn-it-all attitude by continually seeking new knowledge, being open to feedback, and showing how to handle mistakes constructively. How you act sets an example for everyone else in the company.

Satya Nadella's learn-it-all approach has been very important in changing Microsoft's cultural and business transformation. For leaders who want to create a similar work environment, using the learn-it-all attitude is a good and effective way to make a workplace that grows and changes well.