Take Control: Why Self-Driven Learning Shapes Mining Leaders

Last week I reviewed a resume for someone. He was super pleased with the outcome and agreed to write me a recommendation. It was so generous but the thing to stood out to me was the comment "only wish I had seek her service earlier".

That's the second time THIS WEEK that I have had this comment. I also had a session with a mining engineer that I have been working with for only a few weeks. "I wish I'd started this sooner," he said. "I realise now why I haven't been getting the opportunities that other people got. I thought I needed to get more technical qualifications and I was waiting to be given them by my company. I have wasted a lot of time."

The Hidden Cost of Waiting

I see it all the time in our industry. So many talented professionals start their mining careers and they don't progress as quickly as they should (or others do). One example really stands out to me. I was mentoring graduate metallurgists at the time. One downloaded podcasts for her commute and spent her lunch breaks reading industry updates. The other was waiting for his company's scheduled professional development sessions.

Today, she leads a team implementing new sustainable processing methods, while he is still in the same role he was back then (10 years ago).

It wasn't about talent – it was about approach.

Why Traditional Corporate Training Isn't Enough

Let me share something I learned the hard way. In my first leadership role, I thought the company would provide everything I needed to know.

I was wrong.

I had amazing mentors. They went to great lengths to give me training opportunities and amazing advice for my development. They helped me sidestep disasters that were waiting to happen. They helped me navigate conflict and learn how to find my confidence and assertiveness, even when it didn't always go well the first time.

But what they saw for me was only part of what I needed. They saw what I needed for THAT role at THAT time - not what I would need for the 'future me'. I knew where I needed to go and I need to find the skills to be able to show I COULD do it before I would be given a chance to ACTUALLY do it.

The Self-Driven Advantage

I'll never forget what my first mentor told me: "The industry moves faster than any training program can." He was right.

Here's what I've seen work:

1. Adaptability

My supervisors would always offer me the option of learning news skills/getting new certifications for the jobs that nobody else wanted (think - becoming a Quarantine Approved Premises Accredited Person or getting a Dangerous Goods Shipping License). But it was having these certifications that allowed me to survive redundancies and opened up career opportunities I never dreamed of (overseas site work).

2. Career Mobility

I've watched countless talented people stay stuck because they were waiting for permission to learn. Meanwhile, others taught themselves new skills during their lunch breaks and weekend mornings.

3. Innovation Potential

Last year, one of my students, a process engineer, combined his improved English skills with his technical expertise. During a performance review, he confidently presented his innovation ideas to his senior manager - something he told me he couldn't have imagined doing a year earlier.

Instead of waiting for company-sponsored language training, he'd worked with me as well as practicing his technical English every day through podcasts and online forums.

Taking Control: Your Professional Development Roadmap

Let me share what worked for me and the most successful mining professionals I know:

Step 1: Honest Assessment

When I started taking control of my development, I sat down with a notepad (and a strong pot of coffee) and asked myself some tough questions about where I was and where I wanted to be.

Step 2: Personal Learning Strategy

I created my strategy based on conversations with people I admired in the industry. One operations manager told me she reads for 30 minutes every morning before her kids wake up. Another listens to industry podcasts during his gym sessions. (this became my favourite activity!)

Step 3: Multiple Learning Channels

Digital Learning There are so many online courses available today that learning is no longer dependant on finding time to get to a classroom at a scheduled time.

Networking and Mentorship Some of my best learning has come from informal chats with experienced colleagues. That conversation you have in the break room about how they handled a challenging situation? That's gold.

Practical Application I remember volunteering for a challenging technical project. I was terrified, but it taught me more in three months than any formal training program could have.

The Investment Perspective

Think about this: What if you have spent seven years waiting for the perfect training program. That's seven years you could have been growing, learning, and advancing. Instead, you can use your morning commute to listen to industry podcasts. That's valuable hours of learning every week that used to be wasted time.

Making It Work: Real Stories

Let me share how some of my previous colleagues/current students make this work:

1. Time Management Lisa, a processing plant operator and a former colleague, would read industry updates while her kids were at sports practice. "It's amazing what you can learn in those spare moments," she said. Mums have a great way of multi-tasking - they have to!
2. Resource Optimization David, one of my former site safety coordinators, turned his monthly team meetings into learning sessions. Everyone shared one new thing they've learned, creating a culture of continuous improvement.
3. Application Focus One of my students keeps a small notebook in his top pocket at work and writes down new vocabulary words as he hears them and we often chat about them inside our sessions. Five words a week is 250 new words a year!

Measuring Growth

I measure my progress not by certificates on my wall, but by moments like these:

• Solving problems that used to stump me
• Understanding concepts that once went over my head
• Seeing opportunities where I used to see challenges
• Helping others understand complex concepts

The Future of Mining Professional Development

Our industry is changing rapidly. Technology that didn't exist three years ago. The successful professionals I know aren't waiting for training – they're already learning about what's coming next.

Looking Forward

The mining industry needs people who take charge of their own development. I've watched too many talented professionals stagnate while waiting for the perfect training program. The best time to start was yesterday.

The next best time is today.