Billy and Nick are salesmen who have lost their jobs at a large watchmaker’s due to downsizing and the new digital age. Despite their sales expertise, the two lack computer skills and missed out on the computer and digital age developments. In desperation, they decide to take on an internship at Google to challenge themselves! Although the story of these guys is a comedy and may seem a bit exaggerated, but it reminds us that the world and business environment are changing constantly. Technologies, sciences and specialized fields of knowledge and even our lifestyle is continually upgrading and changing. What matters is that learning should never stop.
Lifelong or Continuing Learning
In the management sciences field, “Lifelong or Continuing Learning” is a concept that means unceasing education and expansion of knowledge & skills after formal education. This concept should a goal in the personal, professional and business life of each person and it does not matter if you are a simple salesperson, a board member of a large company or even an investor! In any case, halting the learning process is sometimes the end of one’s career path!
Learning does not mean getting support to become a better manager or businessman, rather, it should communicate that businesses are like living beings and constantly changing. They are regularly developing and altering according to industry progress and market changes. So, in order to remain in the market and not lose the ability to compete, you have to be a learner, adapt to change, and even be the catalyst and driver of change in the company and market.
meaning of Continuous Learning
But what is the exact meaning of ‘Continuous Learning’? What essential skills and knowledge have we not learned at university? What dimensions does it have? And, what is its scope and reach?
‘Continuing Learning’ can be achieved from three major sources: Formal Learning, Social Learning, and Self-Learning.
Formal Learning
means attendance in pre-designed courses, with clear objectives, offered by a school or institution. For example:
• Participation in specialized online or in-person classes at a university
• Training programs planned by organizations to develop human resources or managerial abilities
• Scientific or specialized workshops and conferences
• Courses for learning and developing a new skill such as swimming, cooking, speaking techniques or other languages
Social or Group Learning
means that the learner communicates or interacts with others to increase knowledge or learn new skills, discusses matters, collaborates. Use of the experiences of others, group thinking, and the tips and techniques that others have learned over time with costs incurred can speed up a person’s learning process and keep him or her aware of the inherent environmental changes. This way of learning can be both formal and informal, for example:
• Interactive social networking and discussion groups
• Reading and browsing professional blogs or following specialized podcasts
• Working with teams, interacting with colleagues and learning with friends
• Receiving coaching and training
Self-study Learning
means to acquire formal training or working with others in order to acquire a new skill or improve one’s knowledge and understanding of a subject, but is constraining. It is better to always be inquisitive and do research on new topics. But how?
• By doing individual or independent research and study to gain a deeper understanding of a subject
• Having daily practice and activity to improve skills for cases such as foreign languages, discipline, creativity, etc.
• By learning a novel and updated technology such as new smart tools and computer software
Continuous Learning in the internship Movie
Nick and Billy were salesmen with years of experience and have great communication skills. In the new internship environment, they are faced with young people who are mentally prepared for the digital age, have studied in the best universities and are fully acquainted with the latest global technologies.
The point is that there is no all-knowing being. In other words, there is no one who knows everything. Neither the experienced Billy and Nick nor the young and up-to-date apprentices. It is their placement besides each other that makes them learn as pairs or groups. This issue highlights the importance of age balance in companies- From the Expert Bodies to the Members of Board.
Hard skills (text on image: Software and Programming Skills or Management Techniques) and soft skills (text on image: Teamwork, Effective Communication) can both be learned. It is enough for Young Elites and Experienced Experts to come together and double the speed and quality of learning by creating an instructive atmosphere.
What does Billy & Nick’s internship at Google teach us?
- Always be curious and inquisitive: This will help you maintain your dynamism when there are environmental changes and achieve on-going success.
- Do Not Learn in Just One Area: Increase your knowledge in a number of areas. Gain general knowledge in many fields. This will lead to more creativity, diversity of vision and continuous improvement.
- Learn From Others: Share your experiences with others in a systematic and documented way and use the experience and knowledge of others.
- Understand what is learned does not create value until it is put to use: Use what is learned from others and yourself to keep on developing. Do not be afraid of change.
- Keep Yourself Updated: Our world is changing at an incredible rate. Research and learn the changes in your specific field or specialization and keep updating your knowledge.
Final Note: A learner never graduates!
