Workplace requirements are constantly changing and evolving. Increasingly, today’s workers understand that they need to grow and adapt their skill sets throughout their working life to keep up and remain employable.
As part of ManpowerGroup, we call this ‘learnability’. Focused less on what you already know and more about your capacity to learn, this is a way for workers to ‘future proof’ themselves by developing and remaining adaptable.
This learning can take many different forms. You don’t have to attend a conference or a four-hour in-person workshop to pursue professional development. There are many ways to continue learning remotely and foster career development.
Here are four top ways to continue your education remotely:
Focus on the future
Even if you are now only speaking with your manager over the phone or through video calls, you can continue career conversations. Don’t lose sight of the goal: Getting ahead both today and in the future means constant learning and development.
Ask to set aside specific blocks of time for learning and create concrete goals to help you stay motivate while working remotely.
Leverage online training
It is not always possible to train everyone together. Technology is critical in helping to fill this gap and reach multiple workers on a flexible schedule. It can also help address issues of procrastination or feelings of isolation which can occur when people are studying independently. Social media chat forums allow real-time peer discussions to address challenges you’ve faced while completing lessons independently. E-learning, videos and gamification are all options that ensure learning is accessible, engaging and can take place anywhere, anytime.
Shift to microlearning
Conferences and workshops build in breaks and socialisation for a reason. Taking downtime helps keep attention fresh and facilitates learning to sink in over time. Harvard Business Review recommends focusing on microlearning, or short lessons on a single topic in a five to 10-minute segment. Avoid the temptation to rush through lessons and understand that taking things slow could actually help you absorb more information.
Take educational breaks
Your brain was not designed to be constantly ‘on’ throughout the day, and you need recurring breaks to replenish your focus on tasks. But your rest can be productive, rather than simply scrolling through social media. Give your brain a boost with your break. You can use an app that teaches you a new language, do a crossword puzzle, or read a chapter in a book. Search for something that energises you to be more productive later.
