A Lifetime Commitment

BursaSnipers

Publish date: Sat, 02 Mar 2019, 03:10 PM

4 In many ways lifelong learning is more important now than ever. The pace of technological change that is replacing workers with robots makes lifelong learning critical to long-term career success.

“The old college model of learning and earning a degree is less relevant today,” said John Coleman, a co-author of the book “Passion and Purpose: Stories from the Best and Brightest Young Business Leaders.” “The idea that you can be certified once and be able to do that work the rest of your life is flawed.”

The better strategy: “Rather than front-loading your education, you have to adapt as the economy changes,” Coleman told IBD.

Lifelong learning defined. What is lifelong learning? It’s the self-motivated, continuous effort to improve your knowledge and understanding in any subject area for personal and professional development.

From reading to casually learning a new language with friends to enrolling in formal classes, lifelong learning takes many forms.

The benefits of lifelong learning in the workplace. Depending on what you study, higher education usually means you earn more over the span of your career. Generally speaking, you earn more if you have a college degree. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you’ll earn 40% more every week on average than someone who has a high school degree. And the unemployment rate for high school graduates is more than double the rate for holders of bachelor degrees.

But the economic benefits of lifelong learning are equal to or great than earning that initial college degree, Coleman says.

Technology is fueling the fastest change in the workplace and will require people to learn new skills in a hurry. Robots are replacing many of the jobs people do today. If you don’t learn new skills, you will be out of work.

Lifelong learning also makes you a better leader. As more people work past their retirement age and millennials join the workforce in droves, the workplace is more diverse than ever.

“Lifelong learning keeps you fresh and engaged and lets you see alternative views,” said Herb Stevenson, CEO of Cleveland Consulting Group, a leadership and executive development firm in Novelty, Ohio. “This in turn helps you manage better in a multigenerational workplace. (Lifelong learning) broadens what’s acceptable and what’s possible.”

Make time for continuous learning. What’s the easiest way to keep boosting your knowledge? Read. Stevenson says many of the busy executives he coaches say they don’t have time to read.

“Change your priorities,” he tells them. Make it part of your job. There is nothing wrong with taking 20 minutes of quiet time in the morning to read while you’re at work, Stevenson says.

“Besides, if you’re good at what you do, you should be able to leave it for a little while without it falling apart,” he added.

Another option: audiobooks. Listen to books while on a flight or a long drive. Even listening to Ted Talks can be an excellent way to incorporate learning into your day.

Stevenson says you also get a big bang for your buck when you enroll in intensive one- or two-weeklong leadership programs at topnotch universities. They might cost between $10,000 and $12,000 but they’re far cheaper than earning a traditional MBA.

Your health will thank you. Lifelong learning benefits overall psychological well-being. “Keep using your brain so your brain stays healthy,” said Coleman, a contributor to Harvard Business Review.

Reading relaxes you, according to studies at the University of Sussex and Yale University. “There are studies that show reading decreases stress, even just five minutes of reading,” Coleman said.

The link between lifelong learning and cognitive improvements are inconclusive. “But staying intellectually engaged (whether it’s doing Sudoku, puzzles or learning new skills) keeps your cognitive levels high,” Coleman said.

Stevenson says the leaders he counsels tell him reading makes them more positive and openminded.

Feed your curiosity. Whether you enroll in classes at the local community college or online, be sure to reach out to fellow learners. The more you engage others in your learning process, the more you grow.

“You can learn something from everyone you interact with in your life,” Coleman said. “If you’re observant enough and ask questions, you can learn from just about anyone around you.”

“Book groups are a great way to do that,” Coleman said. He and his wife occasionally host dinner and discussion nights about articles they’ve read, he adds.

“We achieve greater fulfillment by constantly improving ourselves,” Coleman said.

Adelia Cellini Linecker

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