Take the learning reins into your own hands!
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In an age of artificial intelligence and automation, knowledge and skills are ageing at an unprecedented rate. How do we keep our skills up to date while preparing for the needs of the future? For some, this is easy, while others struggle just to find the time. So what separates these people? The fact that learning and developing skills has become a habit.
“I read one book every week.”
“I’m working on my degree and attend evening classes almost every weekday evening!”
Are they superhuman? How do they manage, how do they keep going?
It could be a colleague, a friend or your boss. Chances are, they’re also on the clock and their motivation is sometimes tested. Sometimes they develop themselves less or more, but they do. Regularly.
According to the World Economic Forum’s “On the Future of Jobs” report (2023), skills are turning sour. As many as six in ten (6/10) workers will need training before 2027.
In other words, these workers will not have the skills they need for the future, but will need to learn new skills (upskilling) or update old skills (reskilling) to survive. A good term in this context is ‘skills stability’, which is also referred to in the World Economic Forum report. In the wake of megatrends such as artificial intelligence and robotisation, knowledge and skills are ageing at an accelerating rate.
So who is responsible for learning?
Yours, mine and ours. The people in the example above are not superhumans, but they have made learning a consistent and repeated habit, and they have taken responsibility for their own learning. The key is that they have created a routine based on their own needs and experiences.
So how do you make learning a habit?
The Harvard Business Review article recommends starting by figuring out what you want to learn in the first place. Once you know the goal, the key is to create a practical objective. “Read more” is too broad and cannot be followed. Instead, try a more specific prompt, such as “In two months, read at least one non-fiction book on a new topic”.
Also remember to keep track of your progress. This will make your progress more concrete and remind you of your goal.
So, what should you focus on this autumn? What new skills are worth picking up?
That’s a tough question. A good way to start is to take stock of your current skills and those you’d like to learn or develop. Are there any important future skills on your list?
According to the OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 study, the most important skills for the future are:
- Cognitive and metacognitive skills. Critical thinking, creativity, learning to learn and self-regulation.
- Social and emotional skills. Empathy, self-efficacy, responsibility and collaboration skills.
- Practical skills. Practical use of new knowledge and communication technology equipment and software.
You don’t have to – and shouldn’t – try to develop everything at the same time. Start small, develop systematically and make learning part of your everyday life. For example, the Eduhouse online training courses included in the YTK Worklife membership help you do this.
Guest pen: Eveliina Laari, Training Officer, Eduhouse Oy
Sources:
World Economic Forum: The Future of Jobs 2023
kolahduksia.com/charles-duhigg-the-power-of-habit
Harvard Business Review: How to Make Learning More Automatic
OECD, Future of Education and Skills 2030: Conceptual learning framework
