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“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot
read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn” – Alvin
Toffle. Why? Our understanding of the world is changing rapidly. This is
the essence of science. Newer and better-quality theories are constantly being
picked up and older theories willingly abandoned. This represents that
information in the 21st century is ever changing. Thus, we will all
have to add lifelong learning (which can be un-learning and re-learning) to our
intellectual agendas.
Do consider that lifelong learning can be a valuable asset in the
workplace. Whether your job is as a public school teacher or whether you are an
investor dealing with johor
land, whatever your jobs is, there is always a place and value for
learning.
Read books that are
related to your career
Reading is one of the main methods of gaining new knowledge. Think
about it: those who are well-read and knowledgeable on a variety of topics will
tend to get promoted more quickly and more often than those with lack of
awareness of literature, or those that have been stagnating. Dive in to titles
related to your field of work. Stay up to date with the latest information, breakthroughs
and global events in order to stay ahead of your career reading.
Develop new interests
outside of your job
You might think that there isn’t a need to be an expert in things
that are unrelated to your career. However, you may be surprised at the value
that you can derive from being a well-rounded individual. The thing about
information and skills in the 21st century is that they are
transferable and translational. The skills and knowledge you pick up from
something you are passionate about outside of work can surely be incorporated
into your job at some point. For example, learn a new language or pick up some
theories on business. You’ll never know when these new interests will come in
handy.
Write down what you learn
Sharing your journey of learning through words can be a good way to
recap what you have learned. This notion is formed from the basis of input and
output. You can do this through a blog, or even by writing articles. This helps
you have an output for your career outside of your formal job. Active learning
involves jotting ideas, taking notes and a high level of participation. You’ll
never know when these notes and ideas that you jotted may come in handy later
on.
Take new courses and
attend talks whenever you can
Short courses can be a good way for you to get some new skills and
knowledge. You can even look around for seminars, lectures or conferences to
supplement your learning at work. If physical courses are out of question, you
can sign up for a number of online courses that you can participate in during
your downtime from the comfort of home. Not only will these courses spark your
drive to learn something new, it will look on your resume as well.
Join groups related to
your interests
Birds of a feather flock together. Joining a group of likeminded
individuals will fuel and spark your interests. This will further motivate you
to challenge and reinforce your learning. You will also find opportunities to
question and answer each other. These groups can be anything from a book club
to a professional body or society. Whatever the type of group you choose, it is
a great way to motivate yourself to learn.
Teach what you learn to
someone
Teaching is one of the best ways to learn. When you teach someone, you are putting what you
learned into practice. Find a student or a mentee to take under your wing. You
can even organize a study group or learning circle with colleagues who share
similar interests. Rotate the teaching each week with a take on a fresh new
topic. This way, not only are you teaching, you’re learning as well. When
you’ve been blessed with knowledge and information, remember to pass it on.
Never stop asking
questions
Engage in active learning whenever possible. This means always
asking questions. Don’t sit still and be a passive learner. Rather, push
yourself to ask and answer questions regarding what you are learning and have
already learned. This translates to the workplace as well. You will cultivate
the habit of always pushing concepts and assumptions in order to strive to
learn more. You will always learn to take advantage of experts, particularly
your superiors, as well as tools readily available around you in order to pull
all the knowledge you can out of them.
Don’t be shy to implement,
practice and experiment with your learning
Don’t be afraid to put what you’ve learned into practice. Just
learned how to speak French? If you have a French coworker, why don’t you try
to chat with them in their native language. Practice makes perfect and will
hone your skills even further. Always look for ways to implement and integrate
your newfound skills and knowledge into your work.
Find a mentor
A mentor can be an invaluable resource in your career. Not only will
your mentor be a sounding board for new ideas or questions you might have, they
will help guide you in your climb up the corporate ladder. Find someone who
truly has sufficient quality time to guide and nurture you. Your mentor will be
someone who shares your interests and whose opinions and ideas you really value
and respect.
Set milestones along your
learning journey
Learning is in itself a lifelong journey. Never forget to set goals
and regularly assess your
learning curve. You can make your learning journey more meaningful by
constantly testing your newfound knowledge and to tie successes in learning to
rewards. For example, mastered a new language? Reward yourself with a holiday
to a country that speaks the new language. If you’ve successfully implemented
your new skillset and learning in a work project or process, don’t forget to
always keep on climbing.
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