What does learning at work look like to you?
13-19 May 2024 is Learning At Work week, and I’d love you to get involved! Whether your organisation has something planned or not, here are some practical ways you can get more meaningful learning going at work. Without time-wasting tick box exercises. It’s all about creating and taking the opportunities that mean something to you.
Why I hate appraisals (at least for personal development)
In theory, the appraisal system is a great opportunity for stepping back, reviewing how your year has gone, and what you want and need next in terms of learning and development. However, in many organisations the appraisal system tends to fall at one of two hurdles, or both:
It’s become a procedural, tick-boxing exercise. Neither the appraiser or appraisee gives it any energy or attention (or maybe one party does, and the other doesn’t, which still means it falls flat).
It’s all about meeting an organisation’s KPIs, and how well the employee has supported those. There’s very little focus on the learning and development of the individual unless it’s strictly aligned with clearly defined job goals. This might look like efficiency but it’s actually a huge missed opportunity.
And that’s why I’m so happy there are initiatives like Learning At Work week. Because, if they’re implemented well, they can open up a whole feast of opportunities to learn. And even if nothing structured is happening, it’s a great prompt to consider your own learning and development journey, which is what the rest of this blog is all about!
What does learning at work look like for you?
Think about all the learning you’ve done in your life so far. Does your mind take you straight to textbooks, exams, essays? Fair enough, but those modes of learning aren’t for everyone, and there are many, many other ways to get new knowledge, skills and experiences under your belt. Here are a few you might be able to access, or instigate, at work:
Webinars
Formal training or courses
Work shadowing
Finding a mentor
New projects
Networking events
Being part of a new team
Sabbaticals
Volunteering or community action
We all learn differently. For some people, actually doing the thing they want to learn about is far more effective than reading about it. For others, having a conversation with someone who’s been there is key. The point is, open your mind to the variety of ways you might learn new things at work - you might be surprised.
But now, the big question. What do you want to learn about?
Plot twist: let’s not worry about what you’re bad at…
Before we go any further, I’ll just caveat that. You need a minimum level of competence to do your job! Which, hopefully you’ll have anyway - it’s why you were recruited. But yes, if there are areas of skill or knowledge that are holding you back, get on that. Otherwise…
Focus on what you love. Why? Because that’s what will keep your energy, enthusiasm and motivation going. Even when there are short deadlines at work, or it’s winter and the dark nights are making you want to hibernate. It is so much more joyful to go to work to do things you love!
So, think about what your strengths are - things you are good at and love to do. A simple way to do this is to draw out a table with two columns ‘good at’ and ‘love to do’. Then list the common work activities (e.g. chairing meetings, writing project plans, managing the team etc) that fit in each column. If something appears in both, it’s a strength!
And also think about the things you enjoy, but feel as though you could do with some direction to get good at. And, my advice is, focus on these things when it comes to your learning and development.
Focussing on your strengths isn’t the ‘easy option’. Any learning and development will take you out of your comfort zone, if it’s worth anything. But it is the more fun option, which means you’re likely to stick with any learning you commit to.
And, from the perspective of your employer, it makes good business sense too. Your organisation is far better off having motivated, engaged people at work than resentful people slogging away at tasks they find unrewarding.
So, how can you commit to your own learning and development?
Learning doesn’t stop when we leave formal education, or get the qualifications we need for our profession - we all know that. But with so many demands on our time, the key thing is to find a way to access the learning that suits us. So, think about:
What is it you’d love to work on? Use your strengths, or desired strengths as a starting point. What would you love to dive deeper into? It might be an area of knowledge, a skill, or some new experiences.
How do you like to learn? If you’re a kinesthetic learner, who needs to do a thing to really learn it, a self-study online course is unlikely to be a great fit. But work shadowing could be exactly what you need.
What time do you have available? Your learning needs to work for you and your other commitments if you’re going to stick with it. You might find yourself needing to be flexible - but make sure whatever you choose is realistic.
What opportunities are out there? Once you’ve worked out what your parameters are, it’s time to take a look at what’s on offer. Does your organisation have lunchtime learning programmes, or short courses available? Could you talk to your manager about a longer term development opportunity linked to your role, such as a coaching or management qualification? A nosy around your intranet might reveal all sorts of possibilities that aren’t well promoted.
What opportunities can you create? It might be that there’s not many ‘oven ready’ opportunities. In which case, it’s time to take the initiative and create your own. Is there someone you could ask to mentor you? Is there a project or committee you’d like to take a role on, or start up? Is there an externally offered course you’d like to make a case for?
What benefits are there for you and your employer? You’ll make it a lot easier for your manager to sign off budget, or free up your working time, if you have a case for what the learning will bring you. How will it help you? How will it enhance what you can offer your workplace?
Learning at work should be for everyone, whatever your role or seniority. It certainly doesn’t need to be confined to a week, but wouldn’t it be great if this Learning at Work week helped you reignite your excitement about work?
If you’re a manager reading this and would like help getting some learning at work opportunities that are both practical and meaningful together for your team - let’s discuss!
And if you’re reading this thinking ‘I wish my work was less dull yet stressful and more stretching yet rewarding’ - I can help you too. Let’s make a plan together.
It all starts with a FREE chat. I’d love to hear from you!