Quick, check your phone. How many notifications do you have about operating system software and app updates—and how long have you been ignoring them? Think of your career as the latest smartphone. It's pretty impressive as is, but without regular updates, it'll quickly become outdated, slow, and prone to glitches. The same is true of your career. Think of continuous learning as your personal software update, keeping you fresh, relevant, and ahead of the game.
Use these techniques to develop a habit of continuous learning and growth:
Phase 1: Download a Brain Boost
System Check: Before planning your next upgrade, take some time to reflect on your experiences in the past 90 days. What went well? What needs attention that you'd like to do differently in the future? Ask yourself why it happened, what underlying factors or behaviors might have contributed to those outcomes, and whether there are any unconscious habits, patterns, or blind spots that might be holding you back.
Identify Your Update: What skills or knowledge would make you more powerful and efficient in your role? What critical topics should you focus on? What expertise, currently in high demand, could benefit your team and our customers? Consider a real-world challenge or problem, such as a process improvement, a customer service enhancement, or even building a physical object. Or identify a skill you've been itching to develop, whether it’s learning a new programming language, mastering public speaking, or becoming a whiz at project management.
Plan Your Upgrade: Carve out 30 minutes each week to learn something new. Whether you sign up for a course, take a class on Degreed, join a professional group, watch a TED Talk, or read an industry article, you’re providing your brain with something new to think about, building your mental muscles and expanding your knowledge base. By investing in your skills, you'll become a more valuable asset to your colleagues and our customers, and you'll open yourself up to a wider range of opportunities.
Install New Software: Research and gather the resources you need to master your chosen skill. This could involve online courses, workshops, books, mentorship programs, or even hands-on practice with tools and equipment.
Track Your Journey: Developers provide release notes so they can track—and users can know—what’s changed with each iteration of their software. Take a cue from them: Start a log of what you've learned, how you've applied it, and any insights you've gained. This not only reinforces your learning, but it also creates a reference guide for future you.
Phase 2: Reflect and Refine Your Progress
Debug Your Learning: Every 90 days, review your log to assess what's working and what isn't. Are there areas where you need to debug your learning process? Adjust your approach as needed to maximize your growth.
Identify Your Glitches: Just like software, we all have areas where we could use a little debugging. Take a moment to reflect on any challenges or obstacles you've encountered in your learning process. Are there concepts you haven't fully grasped? Skills you'd like to refine further? Pinpoint these areas for targeted improvement.
Phase 3: Share the Upgrade
Become an Influencer: If software developers kept their updates to themselves, your phone would quickly turn into nothing more than an expensive paperweight. Share your newfound knowledge and insights with colleagues. A quick presentation, an informative email, or even a casual conversation can inspire others to upgrade their own skills and will help you solidify your own understanding.
Collaborate and Connect: Engage in discussions with your colleagues about their learning journeys. Exchange ideas, resources, and tips to create a culture of continuous learning and growth.
Phase 4: Continuous Improvement
Embrace the Feedback Loop: Just like software developers release updates based on user feedback, use feedback from your colleagues and mentors to refine your learning process.
Stay Ahead of the Curve: Continue to seek out new learning opportunities to stay current and relevant in your field.
Celebrate Your Success: Acknowledge your progress and celebrate your achievements. Recognize the effort and dedication you've put into your personal "upgrade."
Remember, continuous learning is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. Make time to reflect and reassess. What do you want to take forward with you into the next 90 days, and what can you leave behind that will help you reach your outcomes? Now go update your phone before you forget again!
