Learning New Skills

I did a search through BlogStreet this morning because I've been thinking about learning new skills and wanted a few links to point to in today's entry. One site I came across is called McGhee's Musings which, by the way has a FABULOUS quote as it's subheading: "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." - Dorothy Parker.

Hmm. There's no cure for curiosity?! I think I really like that! As a business and personal life coach, a large part of my job is helping my clients become more engaged with their work - more curious with what's going on in their lives. Somehow it's comforting to know that there's no cure for that!

In McGhee's post, he reflects on the 'paradox' of us needing to spend more time reflecting on our learning (so that the learning occcurs) but being unable to do so because of the general lack of time available to us. It reminded me of another quote, not by Dorothy Parker, but by Doug King:

"Learn to pause.... or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you."

.... (pause) ....

McGhee also referenced an entry from the Harvard Business School Working Knowledge site by Stever Robbins called, "Organizational Learning is No Accident." In it Robbins writes about how organizations seemingly fight 'tooth and nail' AGAINST learning. "Ultimately," he warns, "organizational learning is doomed to failure unless people can learn."

Strong words. But spot on. And great validation for retaining the services of a business management coach and mentor because in my view, organizational development does not occur without a groundswell of new INDIVIDUAL learning. "Work with the managers whose employees are affected to direct money, people, and time in support of the learning," he says. "Schedule time for learning. Make learning an explicit part of your job, rather than something you hope happens."

If you don't take the time to learn new skills, and if you don't MAKE the time to recognize the new skills you've recently learned, then you're truly missing out on one of the absolute best parts of working for a living. The personal satisfaction that comes from doing something you didn't know to do is sweeter than any pat-on-the-back, kudo, or thank-you-very-much that your boss may happen to give you.

Besides organizations, by and large, do a pretty poor job of employee recognition. So why would you want to leave something as important as that up to someone else?