Anatomy of a Lifelong Learner

People find comfort in cliches, platitudes, and catchphrases. After all, they’re recognizable, effortless, and tend to lubricate the gears of communication. Senders use them in part because receivers understand them, but also because, for some pesky, perky people; they engender a safe, social connection that can enhance rapport. ?

I’m not that guy. My eye twitches when someone professes to be “living the dream.” And I’m unable to hide the massive eye roll when a self-appointed social media influencer advises others to “live their best life”.?Let’s say it together, now – YOLO!

It’s not that I’m a pessimist, although for the record I should point out that an optimist can never be pleasantly surprised. It’s just that I’m afflicted with not only the inability to ignore cliches, but I hear new ones forming in the social collective in real time. For example, newscasters, pundits, and most notoriously, podcast hosts are now physically unable to utter a sentence without using the word “moment”.?Go on. Listen for it. I dare you. You’ll join me in crazy town in about an hour. ?

So, what does this have to do with professional development? First the good news. It seems that we’ve finally debunked the 70-20-10 theory of learning . Unlike a common catchphrase this endlessly misconstrued bit of research infiltrated corporate L&D departments and nearly destroyed their learning strategies and associated ROI.?We’re now on the road to recovery.

The trouble is, the absence of the incorrect does not in itself right a wrong. So how should companies and more importantly, individual employees set about their learning journey? Well, employees can truly become the stewards of their careers by embracing the subtleties of the Lifelong Learning Model.

Now don’t get too excited. There’s no X marks the spot, no secret formula, and no five-step program to “become the best you, you can be”. If I wrote something like that I’d be tempted to kick my own….but, here are a few things to keep track of on your path to personal growth:

• Formal Learning – If it’s been a while since you were in a classroom, dust off your Spiderman lunchbox and take a seat. You don’t have to chase a formal degree. Simply catch a seminar or audit a course. There’s something magical about formal learning. The teacher, the text, and certainly the conversation sparked between students. But more than that, classrooms bring the optimal bend of hopefulness and humility, two things you can never have enough of.
• Mentor/Coach – Yes, they’re different. The first provides subject matter expertise, the second context and progress prompts. The point is to get a respected, knowledgeable voice in your ear. Even the most talented, self-assured people can benefit from a roadmap to the next level. Mentors and coaches have different ways of helping, but both can make your trip easier.
• On-the-Job Learning – For this to work you have to force yourself to do something new and potentially scary. For many this is daunting, but for learning to occur you have to be willing to be embarrassed and even spectacularly fail. Of course, if you’ve hit the books and worked with a mentor or coach the chances of success are much higher. Progress requires you to face risk and apply what you learn at some point. That time is now.
• Hardships / Mistakes: When you fail…and believe me you will, take notes – literally.?The debriefs on debacles are among the greatest learning events you will ever experience. You can’t plan them, and you can’t bake them into your life’s curriculum. All you can do is embrace the lessons when they come and pledge to get better.

And so, this simple method of lifelong learning boils down to a single goal: Be better in December than you were in January.?You accomplish that with focused study, seasoned counsel, practical application, and the willingness to be wrong.?

Oh, and if you want bonus points…and who doesn’t? They, ironically come in the form of a platitude. “Pass on what you have learned,” - Yoda.

That one gets a stamp of approval because well, it’s true, it works, and Yoda is cooler than all of us combined.?Happy learning.

About: Tim Toterhi is not your typical CHRO. He’s an author, career coach, and TEDx speaker who lives by the motto Learn, Teach, Rinse, Repeat. Other posts include:

·?????How to Coach in 60 Seconds

·?????13 Things Every Man Needs to Hear

·?????Leadership Lessons from a Dead Fitbit

·?????Talent isn’t a War. It’s a Space Race