Life is learning and learning
is life. We cannot live if we stop learning. Learning and developing are
requisites for a healthy and effective life.
This is true for all facets of our life but it becomes extremely important when
it comes to our professional lives. New developments are continuously taking
place in every field with a numbing speed. Elvin Toffler termed it ‘Future
Shock’.
Every other day we hear of a new technological advancement, a new Management
strategy, a new term coined to name some new phenomena or process etc.
Consequently, whatever we have learnt up till now becomes outdated and needs
continuous overhauling.
The question is how to face this challenge of constant change and how to keep
abreast with it. Here are some simple tips that I apply in my professional life
and have found very useful.
1. Reading: Readers lead, I strongly believe. People who read regularly are
always more knowledgeable and more competent than their colleagues.
Although we must read about diverse topics to broaden the horizon of
understanding and cross discipline associations, but reading related to the
profession is of prime importance. We can start with the analysis of our day to
identify spots where we can insert reading easily. This would be different for
everyone. Some would prefer reading at tea time, others might consider 15
minutes before going to bed a better option, yet others might want to utilize
their travel time for reading. Whatever is suitable, once we have made the
choice we must stick to it and read regularly without fail.
2. Grab Opportunities of Professional Development: We must never be lazy when we
are told to attend a course by our head. I have seen professionals who waste
their time by giving lame excuses to avoid trainings. Time and tide wait for no
one. We must make the most of this precious resource while we are young and
energetic.
3. Trying out: All reading will remain superficial if it is not practised in the
practical life. Whatever new strategies we learn, we must carefully plan and
then implement them.
4. Constant Reflection: Reflection is a self improvement tool. We must reflect
before action while planning, during action when we are administering our plan
and after action when we have finished the task. Sometimes what we read in books
have to be adapted to suit our unique context. Reflection after action helps us
to modify the strategy next time and make it contextualized.
5. Networking: We must meet other people related to your profession and learn
through their experiences. These connections can be established through the
social networks available on the net as well as other sources like meeting at
conferences, seminars, exhibitions etc. Make these contacts useful by sharing
professional ideas and strategies. Look for gurus of the field and try to avail
their company.
6. Write: Write about your experiences so that your knowledge can be beneficial
for others. Remember the best learning occurs when you teach others.
These are tips that I have applied in my professional life and they have
benefitted me.