On-the-Job Learning Problems

On-the-Job Learning Problems

A few problems we encounter as knowledge workers and some advice on how we can counter act these problems. 

Knowledge work is a learning profession. 

We learn to innovate and create. Learn more, create more. This is the job. 

The type of work that doesn’t require learning (i.e. rote execution) will eventually be replaced by AI. 

Learning on the job is the job of an engineer, a product manager, a designer, an entrepreneur, and many others. 

The better you get at learning fast, the more effective you’ll be at your job. 

What makes it hard to learn on the job? 

My top three problems: 

1. Time constraints

2. Learning inefficiencies 

3. Surface learning 

Time constraints are the top of the list. There aren’t enough hours in the day to learn all that we want to learn. Every one of us is busy. We have pressing projects, tasks, and things we need to do to win at our jobs. 

The best antidote to time constraint is a committed habit to the importance of daily learning time. Take 30 minutes and commit to it each day. This is your mind exercise, akin to physical exercise, you must do each day. Invest in yourself. Become a learning machine. 

To use this time well, we can become more efficient in our learning. This is where quizzing, using a learning journal, etc. come in. These techniques our shown by learning research to give us more bang for our buck. 

Finally, learning on the job can be a scattered affair. We don’t go deep in learning new concepts or skills, which makes it hard to develop more mastery. 

My advice: choose a topic relevant to your job and build a study program for that topic. Dive deep! Listen to podcasts on the topic. Read multiple books. Create a study guide. Focus for a few months before moving to the next. 

#HappyLearning