The world that we live in today is rapidly transforming itself. We live in an environment characterized by rapid changes across the business and technological hemisphere.
It is hence important to persistently keep learning the new technological trends. This lets one keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of technology.
It is not just important for individuals to keep learning, but for all entities, such as teams and organizations. One must correspondingly commit to not just learn a new skill at a personal level, but an organizational level as well.
If we consider the contemporary times in the world of technology, we have come across developments such as FitBit health monitor devices, 3D printers, and Fire TV Stick. Newer gadgets are becoming popular and the older gadgets are making way for the new. Hence, one needs to be open to learning. This brings about a change in our perspectives and tastes. We learn to be more tolerant of the people around us and all people across the world. Our views of the world around us gain maturity when we are open to learning, and we understand how people perceive the world around them.
Being open to learning makes us more accepting and understanding to all around us.
Henceforth, it is not just now and then that one should make an initiative to learn a new skill. One should be open to learning at all times and places.
Despite the numerous benefits that incessant learning has over our lives, we come to see that numerous adults persistently refrain from learning new skills. They resist formal learning, which should not ideally be the case.
There are cases wherein employers make learning courses available for the employees, and the employees do not derive the full benefit of the same by attending them. While they are not forced to attend the courses, they choose not to attend them at all.
Even upon being forcefully made a part of new learning programs, certain employees are not open to grasping new methodologies. The processes induce discomfort among them because they are more comfortable with the old-school method of going about with their daily tasks. The same problem is seen among the employees at different hierarchy levels, entry-level, executive level, and senior management level.
Not being open to learn a new skill obstructs an individual’s growth at numerous levels, professional level, and personal level as well. It does not augur well for the career growth of an individual. Similarly, it does not paint a bright picture of the growth of an organization. Individuals opposed to learn a new skill and modern ways of working sometimes stand to be counterproductive for an organization.
For a corporate worker, being opposed to learning comes in different formats. They may be reluctant to go back to school for degree completion programs or may be apprehensive to learn a new skill. This puts them out of their comfort zone, and they find it difficult to see what good will learning at a corporate level can possibly do. They see corporate learning as a drain of energy and do not possess a drive to go ahead with it.
It is henceforth important for employees at a corporate level to recognize the importance of learning a new skill. They should understand that when they learn a new skill, it will be beneficial for them in numerous ways.
Employees should find themselves in the willingness to learn. This may come in the form of reading a book, attending a lecture, going through a documentary, or sitting through an online learning course or a tutorial. The employees should recognize that such simple ways of learning work well for them, from a career point of view, and boost their work productivity.
There are cases wherein corporate employees have valid reasons for not being amused by the learning initiatives made by their organization. It may be possible that the learning experiences that they may have had in the past may not have been positive. But the employees should overcome their apprehensions and approach new situations with an open mind. It all starts with valuing learning. The employees should feel an intrinsic motivation to learn a new skill. This helps overcome the fears of the struggles involved with learning.
Corporate employees sometimes resist change because change makes them insecure. They feel that they have gotten by for so long without knowing a particular skill. So they do not want to break the sequence and bring about a change in their way of working by learning something new. But this attitude too should be overcome, and the employees should always be willing to learn a new skill.
Let us take a look at 14 top reasons to learn a new skill every month
- Open up new job prospects
There are cases wherein one’s formal education does not equip one with sufficient skills for succeeding in one’s career, in just the way one desires. In case you have recently come to realize that you are a mismatch in the current employment scenario, you should upgrade yourself with a new work skill. This lets you shine in a scenario that best defines you as a person and is more likely to bring in success for your career. Learning a new skill hence lets you reach your potential careerwise.
- Make your Resume look stronger
Employers frequently are on a lookout for candidates with varied skillsets. An added skillset, along with your core proficiency enhances the spectrum of tasks that you can undertake.
Employees with added skillsets save trouble for employers. They may at times not be required to hire additional resources.
Similarly, with an additional skill set in place, an employee can make the best of a work opportunity as and when the time arises.
Knowledge of an additional skill makes an individual eligible for new job requirements, in his current organization or otherwise. Learn a new skill that strengthens your resume by adding diversity.
- Complimentary skill sets
In the technically oriented work hemisphere that currently prevails, an individual’s core skills may not suffice for delivering success. Complimentary skills go a long way in delivering the goods for a corporate employee.
Just as an instance, a graphic designer has a lot to gain by learning color psychology. Similarly, a web designer should know basic SEO, which helps him optimize images and design elements. If one creates mobile apps, knowledge of CSS3 and HTML5 will help keep the apps responsive.
- Take up freelancing projects
There is a range of freelance projects that are nowadays available for anyone who intends to take them. If one is good at designing logos, he can find numerous people online who are willing to pay the individual for his refined skills.
Learning an additional skill lets one make the best of his spare time. If you feel that you could involve yourself with some creative pursuits on Sundays, or have an hour or two to spare each day, an additional skill will help. This gives you access to freelancing projects and some additional income as well.
- Stay occupied as a freelancer
A freelancer may occasionally feel that he has been limited to the projects that pertain to his gamut of skills. If he feels restricted to the circle and believes that he can do more, learning a new skill will help.
Clients frequently lookout for freelancers who can complete projects based on mixed skills, such as graphic designing and web development. A new skillset will give access to new clients, one will have choices to make and can earn more money.
- Enhancing your current skillsets
Enhancing one’s professional skillsets is sure to do good to an individual. It makes one eligible for more complex projects.
As an instance, a web developer can learn about data mining and see if he can make a lucrative career out of it. Some of the other hot skills to learn that can help one at the corporate level include cloud technology and IoT. This helps manage web development projects better and makes one more eligible for upcoming openings.
- A higher visibility
A great website is only as successful as the amount of desired consumer cross-section demographics that visit the website. A little bit of SEO and content marketing can work wonders for a small business.
This can start with interesting social media and blog posts, and SEO keywords that attract the right sort of an audience community to your website.
Visibility also works nicely for a brick and mortar store. After one decides upon his marketing budget, one can spend it over OOH marketing, Google Business Pages, directory listings, making a website, social media marketing, and so on.
- Make the best of spare time
There are cases wherein one feels that there is a dearth of work opportunities in the vicinity of one’s home. Long-distance commutation may not be feasible as the commutation times may be more, or the weather may not be ideal for long-distance commutation.
I such circumstances, one can make an easy secondary income working from home while one finds employment. Web development and designing, and graphic designing can bring one some freelancing projects.
- Balance work and life
There are cases wherein women have obligations at home, such as looking after children or managing cooking and household chores.
In such circumstances, a full-time job may be difficult to manage. Freelancing skillsets come good at such times. One can do some freelancing work in one’s spare time and have some additional cash at hand. With experience, the payments may grow, or one may find a job similar to one’s freelancing work.
- Get the maximum juice from one’s spare time
The human mind is just like elastic, albeit elastic has limitations, but there are no limitations to how far one can stretch the human mind.
People use their spare time in odd ways, catching YouTube videos and TV, 8 hours a day on an average.
If a hobby amuses you and captures your interest, it can become a skill that helps generate some additional income for you every month. If you like PHP development or website building, there is no limit to how well the skills can work for you.
- Infuse a new life into the family business
A traditional family business can get a new lease of life when it goes online. People who are in the vicinity of your business can find it online easily, and access it, bringing you more customers.
You can build a fan following over social media and run offers for privileged customers, seasonal discounts, and offers for first-time visitors.
You could run an online mall to sell the goods that you manufacture in the home industry online. Knowing an additional skill can work nicely for your home business in many ways.
- Come up with ideas at board meetings
If you have frequently come to realize that you are gasping for a finer understanding at board meetings, some online education can make you more thorough with the relevant subjects. You can then voice your opinion and suggestions, which augur well for your organization.
- Start a business in your spare time
The US is a haven for small businesses.
Apple and HP got started in a garage, and FB got started in a dorm. Huffington Post got started from a living room, as a blog.
406K new businesses start-up in the US each year, while 401K shut down each year.
It takes skills for a startup to thrive. So business owners should be thorough with their skills and spend time updating and enhancing their working skills.
- Make your dream come true
Have you ever felt the urge to work on your own terms, 18 hours or 4, as it may suit you, and defining the working hours in your own way?
You are the best candidate for starting your own business. For the same when you learn a skill, it will help. Be it writing, affiliate marketing, or selling goods online at a web mall.
