by Amy Dufrane, Ed.D., SPHR, CAE – HRCI, CEO
We know that we have to regularly reshape our skills and expertise to keep up with the pace of change, but that doesn’t make it any easier to fit big blocks of “continuous education” into our schedules. By building learning into your daily work habits, though, you can avoid falling behind, and you model self-regulated learning for your team and the workforce you serve. Here are a few steps you can take this week to better align your continuous learning needs with your busy schedule.
1. Align learning to strategic goals.
The biggest hurdle to learning is just making time for it. Talk to your supervisor about how learning opportunities can help you reach your personal performance goals as well as broader organizational goals. If you can align your learning with your work goals, it becomes easier to justify setting that time aside.
2. Commit to a daily learning goal.
Read something relevant to your role every day. For example, you could review this roundup of President Biden’s labor policies, written by HRCI’s new legal columnist Neil Reichenberg. Reflect on what these changes mean for your organization. This simple practice helps you get in the habit of applying what you learn in real time.
3. Engage peers or colleagues.
Accountability is vital to maintaining learning habits, so get others involved in a conversation. Scholars and HR professionals are still debating the definition of employee engagement, for instance. Share a definition on LinkedIn or Twitter and ask your peers to weigh in. The discussion will help you refine your thinking.