Learning agility—the skill of learning from experiences so you can succeed in new situations—is key to becoming a better employee and leader. To become a more agile learner, assess and develop your competency in three areas.

Your ability to navigate newness. Ask yourself: How often do I work on something for the first time? When have I spent time outside my comfort zone in the past three months? And how do I respond when priorities and plans change without warning? Look for safe ways to practice adopting a beginner’s mindset.

Your ability to understand others. Ask yourself: How confident am I in challenging conversations where people have different points of view? How much cognitive diversity (people who bring a variety of different experiences, perspectives, and methods) do I have in my career community? Practice listening more than you talk, and actively seek out contexts in which you’re not an expert, but an observer.

Self-awareness. Ask yourself: How do I feel about asking for help and feedback? What’s my impact on the team? Then ask for trusted colleagues’ input. For example, you might ask: “How would you describe my impact on the team?” Does their perception match your own? Identifying gaps between your intent and impact will help you be specific about which actions you need to take to learn and improve.
This tip is adapted from “How to Become an Agile Learner,” by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
Spread the love