Learning at work

Learning at Work Week takes place annually and this year we’re looking at how we can change and adapt in our day jobs. Here, Hannah Montgomery explores how we can all take this opportunity to live and learn…

“There is no end to education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.”

Being taught doesn’t end when we finish school – we can continue to find out new things and gain additional skills throughout our lives – including while we’re at work. Here are some ways we can all benefit from learning at work…

Learning from people

Learning at work doesn’t have to be an entirely solo process. Reaching out for guidance is a good way to get clarification if you’re unsure, or to build on your skills by asking for insight from others.

Take my childhood hobby as an example. I’ve played netball since primary school, and I’ve never had much training in it. I’ve had to learn as I go, using practice sessions and games to hone my technique as a defender (although I’m naturally quite tall, which helps).

I’m currently part of a team that plays twice a week, and in a recent practice session we started earlier than usual so that we could help support our club’s younger netball team. We joined in for an extra half hour to offer tips to the school-aged children, pairing up so they could learn from those in the same netball positions. And while they certainly had enthusiasm in abundance, having us more ‘mature’ members present helped them to direct that energy into more focused play. It was a brilliant idea, and one I could certainly have done with as a child!

This principle can be applied to the workplace – asking for advice from people in similar roles or talking to your manager about anything you’re unsure of will allow you to get perspectives from people who already have that experience. Lolly Daskal claims we learn best from others through exchanging roles, collaborating, and liaising with those who have the strongest knowledge about the subject in hand.

Learning from platforms

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to learn is by heading online. With internet access, you have a wealth of resources at your fingertips – from LinkedIn Learning to YouTube video tutorials, you’ll be able to find just what you’re looking for in the digital database.

This doesn’t just apply to searching for DIY tips or cooking how-tos – why not branch out and use the web to enhance skills beneficial to your day job? For example, if your work involves copy reviewing, take a look at proofreading guides, or refer to informed blogs to pick up tips on how to increase your reach if you’re keen to strengthen your social media presence.

Future Learn suggests choosing a subject that’s good for your work, but good for you too, because if you have an interest in a topic, you’ll be more likely to engage with the learning of it. There’s always something you can do to improve, it’s just a case of taking the time to work on yourself and polish your skills.

Learning from personal experience

Learning is a lifelong process, and according to Lifehack, 70% of learning happens on-the-job. Every day brings an opportunity to expand your skillset and experience – whether you take on a new task or use a platform you’re unfamiliar with – it all contributes to your learning journey.

One-to-ones with your manager provide a prime opportunity to review how you’ve improved over time and what areas you can work on in the future. They can likely give you exposure to training or duties aligned with your learning needs and your organisation’s goals.

When it comes to your own development, it’s important to be intentional. Identify your career aspirations and keep any assumptions at bay in order to gain new perspectives more easily. Staying curious and open-minded will help with this – getting out of your routine and exploring different activities and experiences will automatically broaden your knowledge.

Lessons learned…

There are plenty of great ways to learn and develop, but remember that life is a learning process. There may be a few bumps in the road on the journey to discovery, but we all make mistakes – and that’s okay.

We can’t be expected to get everything right first time (we’re only human!). Life experience gives us confidence and builds our character, and we can help aid this by grabbing any opportunities that come our way.

It feels appropriate to end this blog with a closing statement from the super storyteller that is Dr. Seuss…

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

With that in mind, keep on learning and you can go the distance!

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, get in touch.