We all know the importance of continuous learning. But classes and certifications aren’t the only way. There are plenty of ways we can – and should – be learning, to round out our skills and knowledge. Let’s discuss some today.
We all know the importance of continuous learning. But classes and certifications aren’t the only way. There are plenty of ways we can – and should – be learning, to round out our skills and knowledge. Let’s discuss some today.
Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.
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Hey, it’s Rachel Cooke, your Modern Mentor. I’m the founder of Lead Above Noise—a firm specializing in activating workplaces – helping leaders bring simplicity, ease, and big giant results to the forefront.
Remember your questions and curiosities are the fuel behind this show. So if something – anything workplace related – has been on your mind? Then leave me a voicemail with your question at (201) 677-8113. And I just may answer it on a future podcast.
So, one of those questions I get all the time is some version of “What class should I take to learn X?” You know. Because I do learning and development. So obviously I’m a walking course catalog.
Now I love a good class. When the context is right. Like if you want to fly a plane or remove a kidney or build a house then yes. You should take a class. Preferably a very lot of them. And take the tests and do all the things.
Absolutely certain professional skills rightly require some very real and essential certification.
But in many fields, there are plenty of jobs and specialties that require us to know things that don’t need to be learned in a classroom or certified by a test.
And in these cases, I think we can and should look beyond the classroom for knowledge building. Often conversations and experiences can teach us more than – or at least complement what we’ve learned in – a class.
Let’s talk today about 5 of my favorite ways to learn. Ways I use personally and recommend all the time.
1. Trade coffee for perspective
Yeah, I’m a bit of a coffee fiend. But decaf and/or adult beverages work just as well.
The perspective, however, is required.
Whatever you want to expand your expertise on – world politics or the history of basketball or how to effectively lead a team or what it’s like to move through the world as a trans person – just find someone with a perspective or set of experiences different to yours and invite them to coffee.
This person doesn’t have to be a teacher or an educator, or even the foremost expert on the thing. They should just have something to share to expand – or even challenge – your own set of knowledge or beliefs.
Your job during this coffee is simply to share your curiosity and listen well as they speak.
I’ve been doing this a lot recently. I started running an Activation Bootcamp for leaders – those who want to amplify performance and engagement on their teams.
Talent activation is my expertise. So why should I need perspective?
Well, I may know a lot about activation, but what don’t I know right now? What it feels like to be leading a team in a corporate environment. And I wanted to understand that better before launching my first bootcamp.
So I invited a handful of clients out for coffees. And we chatted one-on-one. I asked them to help me understand their current context, their challenges and opportunities, and their ambitions for their teams.
These perspectives were hugely helpful to me in tweaking the bootcamps which are now receiving rave reviews.
It takes humility and a cup of coffee. And learning is sure to happen.
2. Ask BASIC questions without fear of judgment
Before the pandemic, my husband worked the old way. Like, in an office. Whatever happened between his departure and arrival home was in a black box for me.
But in recent years he’s been working largely from home. I hear his side of many meetings. And I realized at some point I have almost no understanding of what he does. And I got curious.
When I started asking questions, his answers would go over my head. He’d use words that are part of his daily lingo but sound foreign to me. It was kind of a bummer.
I don’t need to understand what he does. But I really wanted to.
So I took another approach. I started asking questions like I was in Kindergarten.
Anytime I asked a question and failed to understand an answer (so, like, always), I’d ask a simpler one. “What does that word mean?”or “How do you know if…?” or “But why wouldn’t you just…?”
My questions were super elementary. And at first I felt ridiculous. But I started learning. And it felt great.
So I finally let go of the fear of being judged. I decided my appetite for knowledge mattered more.
Do I now understand what he does? Kinda. Could I explain it to you? No. But I’m way ahead of where I started. And that’s something!
3. Read fiction
My mom was a librarian. Falling deeply in love with stories was mandatory for me.
I know a lot of adults today who don’t believe in reading fiction. They think it’s frivolous. A waste of time. Why read made-up stories when you could be learning about history? Or science? Or business?
Listen, I love non-fiction. And I consume plenty.
But there’s a lot to be learned from novels as well.
I’ve read novels about well-written characters from different cultural backgrounds, or living very different experiences to my own. And through their stories I’ve had my perspective shifted profoundly – which has helped me relate to a wider range of people with a deep sense of empathy.
I’ve read novels set in places or contexts that have taught me history through story. Which means I remember details I’d never learn from a history book.
The point is, reading of all sorts counts. So grab that novel and enjoy the education.
4. Get novice coaching
Learning happens in all directions. I tell my clients this all the time. I’ve even helped some set up novice coaching programs.
It involves senior leaders bringing big, hairy problems to the table, and more junior employees coaching them to solutions. It’s really cool.
Here’s how it works. A senior leader shows up and describes their situation and the challenge or questions they’re working through. It’s usually something they’ve been living and breathing for awhile.
And the junior people – who may have a basic working knowledge of the situation, but nothing more – play the coaches. They ask really fundamental questions. They recommend really simple ideas. They offer support.
And always – always – the senior leader leaves with a new idea.
Sometimes the very perspective we need isn’t one that’s wiser, but the opposite. Sometimes it’s the freshest eyes that have the most to offer us when we’re deep in the weeds of something.
Give this one a try!
5. Test a thing…with guardrails in place
And finally. Sometimes the best way to learn is to jump in the pool.
Wondering whether a different store layout will move more product? Try it, and watch what happens.
Curious to see whether a different meeting agenda might get you to your objectives more effectively? Try it.
Don’t be afraid to identify experiments that are low risk, and just run them.
Sometimes our own personal experiences are the best teachers of all.
Join me next week for another great episode. Until then, visit my website at leadabovenoise.com if your workplace could use an activation boost – a talk, a workshop, a pulse check – you choose. You can follow Modern Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Find and follow me on LinkedIn. Thanks so much for listening and have a successful week.
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