We live in a world that is constantly changing. This is also true for work, leadership, and management, so we need to adapt if we want to succeed and remain relevant. How can we face new challenges and circumstances? As employees, we hone an essential skill: learnability. As managers, we foster a culture of learning within the company.
What Does Learnability Mean?
In a nutshell, learnability is the capacity to learn, develop, and adapt one’s skillset in order to remain employable.
The digital revolution has brought about many changes in industries across the board. For example, automation has made a huge impact on the automotive industry. Human jobs are potentially at risk unless workers learn new skills and adapt to new roles within the company. Continuous learning is the key to stay competitive.
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. – Benjamin Franklin
Managers Need to Foster a Culture of Learning
In a recent LinkedIn survey, 19% of respondents cited the lack of growth and learning opportunities at work as a reason for quitting. And, by the same token, 19% answered that the opportunity to learn and grow is what inspires them. Studies have shown a decline in job loyalty among Gen Y and Z.
So, managers, take note if you want to retain talent: promoting learnability is key. Provide your employees with upskilling and reskilling tools and resources. This will eventually foster loyalty and a clearer growth plan for team members. Also, this is not just for employees. The ability to learn and adapt quickly makes for better leaders too.
According to Forbes magazine, there are five dimensions of learnability that must be developed to create a learning culture:
- Curiosity and a willingness to ask questions.
- Calmness, a conscious attempt to shut out external noise.
- Absorption or mindfully processing information.
- Action
But I’m Very Busy and Don’t Have Time for Learning
Here are a few tips to integrate learning into the flow of work.
- Block slots for dedicated learning time on your calendar and let your coworkers know.
- Learn in the flow of work. Observe and learn from your peers. Ask them questions, notice how they do things. Take notes.
- Bookmark things you want to learn. For instance, if you are learning a new language, bookmark a vocabulary website.
- Subscribe to high-quality newsletters.
Find the Right Corporate Learning Solutions
As we have discussed, fostering learnability in the company encourages loyalty, and employees are more likely to feel productive, successful, and happy. Another benefit is that reskilling the workforce is much less expensive than hiring new talent.
In the digital age, the ability to communicate in other languages is essential. Besides, learning a new language has other benefits. It develops effective communication and empathy, it is vital for understanding cultural contexts, and it increases the chances of success at work. At a personal level, it keeps the mind sharp and fresh, encourages personal growth, improves memory, and helps develop personal and social skills.
