Extractive summaries and key takeaways from the articles curated from TOP TEN BUSINESS MAGAZINES to promote informed business decision-making | Since September 2017 | Week 310 | August 18-24, 2023
How To Make Time For Professional Development
By Mandy Hübener and Beatrix Becker | Forbes Magazine | August 23, 2023
Listen the Extractive Summary of the Article
In today’s fast-paced business world, continuous learning is not just a buzzword, it is a necessity. Professional development not only elevates skills and careers but also spurs personal growth. The tricky part? Balancing its undeniable value with the pressing demands of the average workday. So, with packed schedules, how can leaders keep learning? Some hands-on tips are:
- Commit the time. Establishing a learning routine is a powerful act. It goes beyond merely allocating a regular time for learning — it is about preserving its sanctity. So, when you earmark time, whether through time blocking or themed mornings like “Wisdom Wednesdays,” guard these slots fiercely. Close that email inbox. Mute your social media alerts. How about using your commuting time? You can swap out your usual playlist for an educational podcast or audiobook.
- Make it smaller for bigger impact. With so little time to dive deep into lengthy learning materials, concise, bite-sized learning can be invaluable. On a short subway ride listen to a brief podcast episode. Waiting for a software update? Dive into a “Two-Minute Tidbit” instead of scrolling through social media. And it’s remarkable how these quick sessions, when consistently embraced, can sum up to substantial learning time.
- Lean into your network. While microlearning offers quick, daily insights, the power of collaborative learning in teams cannot be understated. Your “development network” – the community of your workplace peers, mentors, and experts – is not only enriching but also a time-efficient strategy to bolster learning. Team-based learning goals, for instance, make learning a collaborative endeavor.
- Be smarter faster with AI. Imagine having AI-powered browser extensions that condense the essence of lengthy books and articles, extracting insights you can use immediately. Or voice-activated assistants that curate daily news, filtering out the noise to ensure you only receive the information most pertinent to your industry. With AI, you’re not just saving time, you’re enhancing the quality of what you learn.
- Seize the moment. While proactive, scheduled learning sets a solid foundation, it’s equally important to remain agile. This is why “just-in-time learning” can be an important complement to your established learning routines. Imagine, for example, your reflection on a conflict between yourself and a colleague can add learning.
- Stay the course. Tracking your progress and staying motivated are pivotal to harnessing the power of continuous learning. Monitoring progress not only optimizes your learning time, it boosts motivation and efficiency. Journaling, for example, is an avenue for reflection, aiding in better time management by emphasizing where focus is essential. Digital tools can help in this.
2 key takeaways from the article
- In today’s fast-paced business world, continuous learning is not just a buzzword, it is a necessity. Professional development not only elevates skills and careers but also spurs personal growth. The tricky part? Balancing its undeniable value with the pressing demands of the average workday. Carving out time for learning is a genuine challenge for leaders.
- Learning might not scream “urgent,” but sidelining it is a gamble on future success. So, with packed schedules, how can leaders keep learning? Some hands-on tips are: Commit the time, Make it smaller for bigger impact, Lean into your network, Be smarter faster with AI, Seize the moment, and Stay the course.
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Topics: Personal Development, Learning, Mentoring, Leadership
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