7 QUALITIES FOR EFFECTIVE LIFELONG LEARNING

I recently read an HBR article which captured, in broad strokes, the qualities that help people continue to learn and grow in contexts where change is the norm. In the article titled ‘Learning how to learn’, Erika Andersen identifies 4 key traits namely: Aspiration, Self-awareness, Curiousity and Vulnerablity [READ MORE] These were the traits which helped many of her consulting clients keep up with the learning demands of their industries and organizations.

While these traits hold true for all lifelong learners, I take a different approach in this article. I have identified 7 qualities that have kept me on my toes as a lifelong learner and which I think are essential for effective lifelong learning. In many ways, they are related to the broad traits mentioned in the HBR article and where possible, I have tried to make such connections clear.

*** 1 ***
BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE KNOWLEDGE GAPS

In my opinion, this is very important. These days, it’s not a question of if we know and what we know but how well we know it and how up-to-date our knowledge is. In the knowledge economy where knowledge production is accelerated and where knowledge quickly becomes obsolete, it’s important to know how to recognize where there are gaps in our knowledge, understanding and skills.

In some cases, employers and mentors help with identifying these gaps and recommending (if not demanding) that they be addressed. With more and more young people now working independently as freelancers & entrepreneurs, this responsibility now rests with the individual. We need to have the self-awareness and attentiveness to recognize when and where we are lacking in knowledge and skills.

THE HOW >>>
It’s only with exposure that knowledge gaps can be identified. Exposure can be achieved through feedback from employers, mentors and peers. Reading, research and networking within your industry are also very useful. That said, it’s important that you pay attention or you’ll miss the relevant pointers.

*** 2 ***
BE ABLE TO SEE BENEFITS OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

While there are many who love to learn for the sake of it, most of us have practical concerns which demand that we judge new knowledge by its utility. If we find new knowledge useful, we pursue it and if we don’t, we ignore it. Many people operate on the basis of this calculus. So, it’s fair to say that among other things, the people who are motivated to learn are those who see the benefits of new knowledge.

What some people don’t realize is that their ability to see the value of new knowledge also depends on what they know. An ignorant person will probably not know the benefit of having a new skill set. Benefits include the possible applications of new knowledge, its relevance in an industry/ industries, the level of demand for it, the enhancement effects it can have when combined with the skills you already possess, etc.

THE HOW >>>
Knowledge has an epic positive feedback loop. Its effects can be unpredictable, far-reaching and enduring. This is why doing simple things like reading the news, journals, blogs, tweets and Facebook posts matter. The small and big things we know determine our ability to see the value of new knowledge among other things. We just have to keep up and keep at it.

*** 3 ***
BE CURIOUS ABOUT THE WORLD

Curiosity is a great motivator of learning. It is the desire we have to know and grasp the world around us. For some, the world to be known is as small as an industry or society and for others, it is as vast as the universe itself. While everyone would identify themselves as curious by nature, I think curiosity can be cultivated. And it is this learned curiosity that is useful for effective lifelong learning.

THE HOW >>>
I’m not exactly sure how we can teach ourselves to be curious. I think it helps to strive to know more about the things we like or enjoy, no matter how trivial. As we mature and our interests change, this curiosity will be applied to newer and newer situations. In this way, it becomes a habit that helps us see and pursue learning as a lifelong venture.

*** 4 ***
DON’T BE INTIMIDATED BY NEW KNOWLEDGE

Having to learn a new skill can be intimidating for many reasons. I write about this in another post [READ HERE]. In order to be effective lifelong learners however, we cannot let ourselves be scared by new knowledge. And even when we are scared, we cannot let fear stop us from working boldly to learn.

THE HOW >>>
As someone who has confronted this fear, I think nothing helps us conquer it like knowing we are up to the challenge. When you can look back and see how you’ve tackled similar learning challenges, you will face the one at hand more confidently. So, to conquer this fear, whatever its root cause, try pushing through it. Trust me; it gets easier and easier with each try.

*** 5 ***
DON’T BE INTIMIDATED BY THE NEED TO LEARN INDEPENDENTLY

Much of lifelong learning is self-directed. As a lifelong learner, you need to have the courage, initiative and discipline to set a learning course for yourself and follow through with it. Many of the learning opportunities available today assume that people are able to manage their own learning efforts. So, we cannot afford to be intimidated by the need to work things out by ourselves.

Truth be told, working independently does not mean that learners cannot seek the assistance of institutions, teachers, tutors, peers, etc. Even with this help, the learner is still in control and bears much of the responsibility when it comes to deciding what to learn, how to learn and when to learn.

THE HOW >>>
The ability to handle self-directed study is what basic educational institutions are expected to teach people today. Once a person has this competency, the next hurdle is ensuring that they are actually capable of exercising it. Today, the ability to act on this competency depends on access to key infrastructure like internet connectivity, computing hardware, libraries and other learning spaces.

It’s fair to say we’re already engaged in directing our own study efforts. It’s just that some people are more actively engaged and more effective at it than others. To do this well, you need to learn about yourself and the learning styles or contexts that suit you best. Next, you need to take action. As with all skills, you get better at it with practice.

*** 6 ***
BE WILLING TO TACKLE LEARNING IN SMALL CONSISTENT STEPS

Many adults simply cannot afford to set aside 2 or 4 years exclusively for study. It’s a reality that has shaped older lifelong learning efforts such as Distance Learning programs here in Nigeria. That said, setting time aside exclusively for study is still considered ideal. While it certainly has its advantages, for many working adults around the world, it is simply impractical.

To be effective lifelong learners, we have to be willing to learn at a pace and within contexts that are workable for us. This often means that we have to be comfortable with pursuing our learning goals in small, consistent steps.

THE HOW >>>
Many people are getting ahead in life and their careers because they are willing to take this approach. They are able to live up to their financial, work and family obligations while learning new skills to propel them to the next level. The bottom line is this: it works. Take the time to find out how people in similar situations go about it.

When I started this business years ago, I quickly understood that I had much to learn if I wanted my business and brand to suit the 21st century Nigerian woman. I make time everyday to read and learn new skills. It’s part of my daily, weekly and monthly to-dos. In fact, I’ve planned things in such a way that learning and research are an essential first step for many of my business activities be it jewellery making, blogging or graphic design. I have intentionally made learning a critical part of what I do as an entrepreneur every single day.

You can take a similar approach. Don’t just do what you are good at. Aim to reach the next level and you’ll find yourself on an upward trajectory. You should also take a look at this HBR article in which Liane Davey breaks down how to go about learning a new skill while also working. [READ HERE]

*** 7 ***
VALUE ALL KINDS AND FORMATS OF KNOWLEDGE

The internet provides an amazing set of tools for lifelong learning. There’s a lot of variety in the formats of content and the learning platforms available. People learn through online courses, videos, blogs, journals, games, podcasts, infographics, etc. The effectiveness of these tools confirms what educators have long known: that there are multiple valid learning pathways (learning sequences) and environments (places & contexts).

To be an effective lifelong learner, you should value all formats through which knowledge can be imparted. They will certainly not deliver the same depth or scope on issues. They will however help to reinforce the explicit & tacit knowledge you already possess while gradually exposing you to new information.

THE HOW >>>
I think bias, not just personal preference, plays an important role here. Traditional educational institutions tend to place greater value on particular kinds of materials over others. So people acquire certain preferences and biases like Words over pictures, books over blogs, articles over videos, etc. People even end up with preferences that may not even be suited to their own personal learning style.

Each form of content and learning environment has its advantages. Games and simulations are great for learning strategy, videos are great for learning how to do things & can have an effect similar to one-on-one interaction or tutoring, and infographics can help with learning the relationships between different related things. Each format has something to offer and allowing yourself to experience many formats for learning purposes can do a lot to boost your zeal for learning in general.