What do Barack Obama, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have in common? Apart from being wealthy, influential and powerful people, they've all become known for their commitment to continuous learning. For example:
These are all examples of what may be termed a "lifelong learner mindset." Lifelong learners don't believe that they already "know enough to get by." Rather, they are passionate about exploring new topics — and even expanding and deepening their base of knowledge on topics that they already know.
Being a lifelong learner is a conscious decision that each and every person has the ability to make. Time and again, lifelong learners have thrived in challenging and unexpected situations, and have leveraged their outlook on education into tangible results and achievements.
Granted, it takes effort to get started on this lifelong learning "journey." The purpose of the following information is to provide perspective on why developing a lifelong learning mindset is so critical today, and how (and where) to begin. First, let's briefly define what the term "lifelong learning" really means.
One definition of lifelong learning reads as follows: "The practice of continuing to learn throughout one's entire life, especially outside of or after the completion of formal schooling."
It's important to note that lifelong learning is not only a practice, but also a state of mind. In this, it differs from continuing education, which is simply a formalized type of learning that builds upon a foundation of knowledge in a certain field or subject. Lifelong learning, on the other hand, is a completely voluntary, self-motivated pursuit of knowledge that never stops. It can embrace both the personal and professional spheres of an individual's life (and sometimes encompasses both of them concurrently).
Lifelong learning is certainly important for an individual's employability on the job market. However, it is also a critical component in personal growth and professional development, and is one key element of successful leadership in the corporate world. As self-made billionaire Paul Tudor Jonesonce remarked: "Intellectual capital will always trump financial capital."
Many people — no doubt influenced by the traditional concept of university — tend to view education as a massive "upfront" investment that should pay passive dividends for years to come. The outlook of a lifelong learner presents a stark contrast to this perspective. In the lifelong learner's mind, education should be a continual process that never truly ends.
It's no surprise that many of the most effective leaders today are open to learning in non-traditional ways. They are also willing and able to "unlearn" concepts that have been debunked, and "relearn" things that will help them to be better managers, trainers, strategists and motivators. Simply put, highly effective leaders are coachable. Instead of saying "I know" (two words that often signal the death of learning), they instead say "I wantto know." As a result, they are open to innovative ideas that would have never gained traction otherwise.
While it would be impossible to provide a comprehensive list of the many benefits inherent in a lifelong learning mindset, here are a few key reasons why cultivating this outlook has a positive impact on the lives and careers of both current and future leaders:
The concepts of lifelong learning and personal leadership development align well with one another. In fact, it's often impossible to pursue one without the other.
If you are looking for ways to grow personally and professionally, here are some elements that you should consider including in your individual plan.
Taking a moment to personally reflect on your vision, goals and gaps will jumpstart your leadership development plan development with focus and clarity.
Start by formalizing these questions:
Whether it's a skilled colleague from whom you could learn, or a vendor with in-depth, specialized knowledge of the product that he or she supplies, look for people who could benefit from a working relationship with you, and who could benefit you in return.
Identifying leaders you look up to and reflecting on key traits you believe make them great at what they do can be a powerful way of developing your own leadership development goals. Then, reach out to them to initiate a conversation.
Whether through direct feedback within your organization or a more personal approach through a personality assessment, the goal is to identify your strengths and weaknesses and outline what you should focus your learnings objectives on.
E.g: I learned that although I am excellent at communicating shifts in operational priorities, I need to do a better job at providing a clear context and articulating clear objectives.
Your development plan needs to be full of the above mentioned action items that come with their own deadlines. From taking a week to reflect on your own vision to getting feedback and completing a self-assessment, committing to a deadline will go a long way to act on your goals.
There are many types of learning available to self-motivated individuals today. Formalized classroom education is one of them but there is a plethora of options available for lifelong learners. Whether you have the opportunity to get additional formal training through your company or take a more personal approach on your free time, these are the major options to consider:
Continuing education can be considered a formal extension of lifelong learning. Whether continuing education is "worth it" depends of course on the amount of the investment and the field of study. But more and more, effective continuing education needs to include so-called "soft skills" that are necessary for emotionally intelligent leaders, such as:
Recent research showed that 97% of employers view soft skills as important ormoreimportant than hard skills — and of the new employees that quit or are terminated within 18 months of landing their job, 89% fail because of a lack of soft skills.
Taking all this into consideration, you should carefully consider the following points when deciding whether to invest in continuing education:
In conclusion, lifelong learning is no longer a luxury in the modern workplace — it's a necessity. If you cultivate the right attitude towards ongoing learning and create a workable personal development plan, then you'll be able to reap the fruits of increased knowledge, experience, and confidence from your efforts — and become a better leader in the process.