Are you still learning?

Are you still learning?

Starting a new job is always exciting because there is so much to learn. But after a while once you’ve settled in and started to get to know all the systems and people, things can start to feel a bit hum drum. You may find yourself feeling not quite as motivated to go to work in the morning and watching the clock until its home time. Maybe it’s not motivation that’s the problem. Maybe you’ve stopped learning and that’s why your brain is getting distracted.

It’s a strange thing but as humans our brains are actually geared towards learning, and unconsciously we are naturally happier when we’re actively taking in new information. “But what can I do when I’ve learnt everything I need to about my job?” Keep in mind though that things are always changing in the marketplace and the economy. Some are opportunities and some are challenges and all will affect businesses in some way, regardless of whether they are big or small.

Similarly we live in a technological age, almost every month system updates happen to continuously improve on their functionality. If you work on a system, you might be able to give feedback on elements that may help drive improvements. The point is that if you start looking around you will find that there are lots of opportunities for learning. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Subscribe to an industry journal or newsletter. Finding out about what’s happening in the broader industry may help you to think ahead and prepare for challenges or opportunities that may come your way.
• Find out what technologies are influencing your industry, then follow a YouTube channel or join a social media group that shares related information. If you become the most knowledgeable person in the company relating to new technologies it may open up opportunities for promotion.
• Find out more about the operations of the company, ask colleagues if they’re willing to share their knowledge and what they do. Understanding the workflow in the business can help you identify ways to improve how different departments work together.
• Find out about industry related seminars or courses and find out if your company would be willing to sponsor your attendance. Most companies are eager to support learning and will support your efforts.
• Let your boss know that you are keen to learn more and also share which elements of the job interest you most. If they know of your interests and enthusiasm, you’ll be the top of your list when opportunities for training come up.

Do these ideas have you more excited about work? Well then, it’s a sign that learning is your key to motivation. So don’t wait for tomorrow, look for learning opportunities today!