The world of work is always evolving. The skillset needed to succeed in a particular field changes every year as technology evolves, and the role of automation continues to grow. This means employers constantly need to adapt the part played by their staff in making their business a success. For the employees of today, the one-track career path is a thing of the past. In such a dynamic employment landscape, workers are expected to flexible and be prepared to learn a new skill whenever necessary.
The work environment is now also a learning environment, one in which upskilling is part and parcel of the job. As members of the workforce constantly retrain and broaden their abilities, being open to learning will no longer set you apart from your peers in the job market. It’s no longer enough to be a learner, you need to be the right kind of learner.
Know How to Learn
At Alison, we’re not just experts in teaching, we’re experts in learning. Deciding to take an online course in order to improve your CV or upgrade your earning potential is only half the battle. In order to maximise the benefit of our free online courses, you need to develop an Intentional Learning Mindset.
Many people in today’s job market struggle to learn the new skills required of them because they don’t know how to learn. An Intentional Learning Mindset is an approach to learning which sees you live as you learn and learn as you live. Unlocking this mindset allows you to approach learning as a holistic experience that, instead of feeling daunting, seems natural. Equally, it means that you integrate learning into your everyday experience. An Intentional Learning Mindset isn’t just an approach to Alison, it’s an approach to life!
As the jobs market continues to evolve, this attitude to learning is becoming increasingly important to employees who are required to be evermore adaptable and willing to retrain.
Here are six ways to develop your Intentional Learning Mindset and future-proof your career.
6 Ways to Develop an Intentional Learning Mindset (with free courses!)
-
Every Moment is a Learning Opportunity
Every moment is alive with learning opportunities and being able to harness this potential means you’re always open to engaging new ideas and taking in new information. Mindfulness and zen are two excellent practices that allow you to centre yourself and take in the moment, and harness its potential. An Intentional Learning Mindset isn’t just about actively engaging with learning material, it’s about cultivating a disposition which sees each moment as a learning opportunity and is able to capitalise on it.
-
Growth is Always an Option
Cultivating Intentionality allows you to fully engage in the task of learning. This is the vital first step but it needs to be twinned with an equally engaged attitude focused on results. This is where a Growth Mindset comes into play. A Growth Mindset means that, while you’re learning, you’re always intent on expanding your capabilities and growing your skillset. You focus on the building of experience and the practice accrued, rather than focusing on what you haven’t yet learned or the difficulties that come with acquiring new knowledge. A Growth Mindset means you always think of your learning journey in terms of progress.
-
Discard Distractions
Fundamental to fostering an Intentional Learning Mindset is the belief that the act of learning has an inherent value and thus requires commitment. In order to fully take in the material you’re learning, you need to deliberately think about what you’re doing. Trying to learn while splitting your attention means that you’re not respecting the skill you’re aiming to learn. You’re also frustrating yourself because you won’t learn at the rate you could if you devoted yourself fully to your studies. Intentional Learning means distractions go out the window!
-
Regular Achievable Goals
Intentional Learning requires commitment and can be a difficult mindset to master and equally hard to maintain. To encourage your commitment to the task at hand, it’s vital to set yourself regular, manageable goals so that you can chart your progress while also marking your achievements on your learning journey. This provides encouragement and inspiration, both of which make it easier to stay committed.
-
Committed Learning = Committed Practice
Intentional Learning should lead to Intentional Practice, which should then lead to Intentional Working. Translating education into concrete work experience can be difficult and is often where many students struggle. While a teacher can help you learn information, it’s up to the student to put it into practice effectively. Growing your critical thinking skills is crucial for turning your learning into action. By critically diagnosing your work situation, you can identify how to apply your newly gained knowledge in a way that boosts your performance while also improving the functionality of the workplace.
-
Feedback is Part of the Learning Journey
Learning doesn’t stop once it’s been put into practice. An Intentional Learning Mindset is a holistic approach to gaining knowledge and is applied at all moments. However, sometimes knowledge can only be gained from without, and if you’re applying a new skill in the workplace, it’s going to be observed by your peers and managers. The likelihood is that the application of your new skillset is going to be able to be finetuned. To continue learning, it’s important to reach out to those around you for feedback so that you can adapt your newfound knowledge and continue to advance. Asking for and receiving feedback can seem overwhelming, so building your confidence and self-belief are central to developing an Intentional Learning Mindset.
