Learn While You’re on the Job

Too many of us relegate learning to formal, instructor-led programs. But, you can actually incorporate learning into what you already do every day. For example, you can use a team meeting to work on your communication skills. A morning of returning email can become a chance to apply a new organization system. An afternoon of customer interactions can become a chance to hone your business development pitch. Focus on a skill that you want to develop, and research it online — you can find blogs from subject matter experts on almost any topic, not to mention a generous supply of YouTube videos. Then, set a series of small, progressive goals and enlist a colleague to pay attention to your skill-building effort by offering periodic feedback along the way.

(Adapted from “You Can Learn and Get Work Done at the Same Time,” by Liane Davey)