Ways to become a better learner
Learning agility refers to the capacity for rapid, continuous learning from experience. Agile learners are more likely to be successful in their personal, as well as professional lives. A recent Harvard Business Review article highlighted ways to increase learning agility.
- Ask for feedback. Ask for insight from people who have interacted with you or observed your performance on a task. Let them know you value their perspective and ask them about potential areas of improvement. Despite their feedback, try not to defend yourself.
- Experiment with new approaches or behaviors. Reflect on a challenge you are facing. Ask yourself the following questions: “What’s one thing I could do to change the outcome of the situation?” and “What will I do differently in the future?”
- Look for connections across seemingly unrelated areas. Pick an area that you have expertise in but that is unrelated to your work. Ask yourself how you might apply that knowledge to your current work-related challenge.
- Make time for reflection. Ask yourself questions like “What have I learned from this experience?” and “What turned out differently than I expected?” Asking these questions demonstrate and encourage reflection and awareness.