The Life Design News

Past Newsletters

Invest in Your Skills

I love learning and enjoy sharing my passion for learning with others, hence the theme for this month.

Everyone learns in different ways. Back when you were in school, you may not have given this a lot of thought, however, when you take control of your learning at work, you will find you have many options to choose from.

Identify Your "Best Practices"

One of the most effective ways to learn how you learn is by reviewing your past. Take some time to remember learning experiences you have had, both inside and out of 'formal' education. Identify the ones that stand out - situations where you felt relaxed, enthusiastic and successful about your learning experience and those you definitely did not. These will be you richest sources of information.

Consider the following points to help you start reflecting, then record what you find:

Who did I enjoy learning from?
Who did I learn most successfully from?
What were the situations where I learned well?
What learning situations were unsuccessful?
Which atmospheres helped my learning (e.g. competitive, cooperative, non-judgmental)?
Which atmospheres were not helpful (e.g. competitive, cooperative, non-judgmental)? * What time restrictions affected my learning? Did I thrive under pressure? Do I learn best at my own pace?
What were my favourite learning aids (a book, a person or a tool)?

The information you discover in your past will help you generate a list of "personal best" learning practices.

Notice Where You Learn

The environment in which learning takes place may also affect your learning style. Did you learn best:

In a formal setting, by attending workshops, seminars, night courses, etc.?
In an informal setting, where you learned from co-workers, coaches, mentors, etc.?
By absorption, where you "soaked up" information by just being in the workplace, watching, overhearing, trying things out with co-workers?

Does it look like you consistently learned best in a particular kind of setting? Alternatively, did the content of what you were trying to learn affect where and how you prefer to learn?

Are You Concrete or Theoretical?

As you learn at work, you may need concrete skills and knowledge of how to use specific tools, or how to fill out a certain kind of form. You may also require theoretical knowledge, like how the tool works and why filling out the form is crucial to the business.

If you prefer a hands-on, concrete style of learning you might find it more difficult to take in or retain theoretical information. You may prefer diving into your learning tasks and discovering for yourself by trial and error (How does that computer program work? Here, let me play with it for a while…").

Most work demands a combination of theoretical and concrete skills and knowledge. Consequently, you may find that if you tend to prefer concrete kinds of learning, there are times when you may need to cultivate your patience for theoretical learning - for reading, discussion, watching demonstrations, etc. If you tend to prefer the theoretical approach, you may need to practice getting your hands "dirty", feeling more comfortable about playing with something until you get it right.

Other Points To Consider

Do you learn best in or out of a context? For example, could you read an article about communication skills and then try them out at work the next day? Or would you prefer to watch a demonstration on communication skills and then have an opportunity to conduct a role-play?
Do you learn best in a social environment like a seminar or class? Do you like to learn on your own, reading and experimenting, or one-on-one with a coach?
Are you a structured learner who prefers direction and encouragement? A collaborative learner who enjoys the challenges of observing, discussing and sharing with others?
Are you an independent learner who prefers to discover and experiment on your own?

You can use the answers to these questions to help you approach your learning in very unique ways and by combining approaches. For example, you may implement your style to develop time management skills by:

Reading an article on the subject (theoretical)
Talking to a friend about effective methods for managing your tasks (collaborative)
Shopping for a day-timer on the Web (independent, experimental) and
Using your day timer (concrete)
Making journal notes about your progress (reflective)

The key is to ask yourself what types of learning are you currently facing in your work and how can you create a closer match between these and your learning style. It is also helpful to remember that if you seem to be having difficulty learning something, switching to a different learning style may be just the thing to help you hear the penny drop, see the light come on, or bring the pieces of the puzzle into place!

If you have comments or questions that you would like answered, please feel free to e-mail or call.

Wishing you balance, fulfillment and learning in your lifework!

Rob