Are you a lifelong learner? This can apply to your personal or professional life but this post is intended for professional use.
We may not realize it but we’re always learning. That may range from conversations, books, seminars, webinars, online classes, to in-person classes. Maybe it’s a combination of these options. You may need to learn a new skill or perhaps something that piques your interest. Know that it all counts and sometimes one form of learning may lead to another.
Because of the countless opportunities it may seem somewhat overwhelming to decide what to learn. One suggestion is to consider the following questions:
- What truly excites you?
- What is holding you back or getting in your way?
- What’s in demand based on job postings or the market?
- Have you mastered the fundamentals? (Be sure you start at the right place.)
- How do you plan to apply what you learn?
Once you’ve narrowed down what to focus on as a learner, look at the various benefits. You may have considered these benefits but you may want to look at them again. For example:
*Learning can assist you in your coping strategies and therefore improves your mental health.
*Learning can enhance your ability to connect with others who share your interest.
*Learning can improve your level of motivation as it adds purpose and meaning to one’s life.
*Learning can help you gain confidence as you know more about handling challenges.
*Learning can guide you in your career progression.
*Learning can create more flexibility and expand your memory; it’s a way of helping your brain.
*Learning beats boredom and enriches your efforts.
*Learning can boost your level of happiness and ultimately your overall well-being.
In addition to these eight benefits, you definitely want to weigh your why; in other words your rationale for learning a new skill. Your why should make sense to you and can always be changed at a later date.
One skill is that of public speaking. The benefits are multifold and you may apply this skill in a variety of ways. The best part of working on your public speaking is that you have the chance to address particular aspects and then continue from that point. Don’t worry about mastering public speaking because it’s a lifelong pursuit.