The biggest challenge for Malaysia from a human capital perspective, is in preparing our workforce for growth, from a technological perspective, as well as for the development of a strong purpose drive in our people.
Technological innovation has its genesis in our education system. The teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are the purview of our schools and universities. To strengthen these subjects, it requires a strong commitment from the government. And upon joining employment, it becomes the responsibility of employers to continue to offer opportunities to their staff to enhance these skills.
On the other hand, to ensure that our workforce is purpose driven and is focused on the right priorities, organisations must encourage and stimulate their teams to commit to life-long learning. Undoubtedly, it is a key trait for anyone wanting to grow.
Cultivating the habit of developing your mind through constant learning will guarantee that you get results. When you dedicate yourself to continuous learning, you will progress in all areas of life.
Even when choosing an employer, people who are successful will investigate how much learning opportunities a company might offer. They will check if their potential employer has a track record of training their staff, and their decision to join an organisation will be based on this.
The most effective people I know also read a lot. They attend conferences and conventions. And they go to numerous talks and forums. They are interested in anything and everything that can help them become more effective, and get results.
You must realise that learning also has deep intrinsic advantages. It helps with your self-esteem.
As you learn, you gain competence. And, as you become competent at what you do, your confidence increases. I ask all the people I coach in my executive leadership coaching sessions to remember this.
Your confidence will boost your self-efficacy, and you become more adaptable to change when it happens. Learning will challenge your entrenched beliefs. This allows you to be receptive to new ideas. And holistically, learning helps you achieve a more satisfying personal life.
There are two primary motivators for continuous learning. The first is learning for personal satisfaction, and the second is learning for professional development. The start point is to cultivate life-long learning for personal satisfaction. It is a core habit that everyone needs to nurture.
In fact, it is a prerequisite for long lasting mental health.
Groundbreaking research published by the National Institutes of Health in the United States indicates that those who continue learning new things throughout life, while challenging their brains, are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
There are other advantages for why people learn for personal growth.
I have friend in his fifties learn how to finally revitalise his flailing health by reeducating himself on his eating habits. I have another friend who took up deep sea diving in his forties, and this precipitated his early retirement from stressful job, leading him ultimately to better life quality.
The second reason for continuous learning is for your professional or career development.
Having good qualifications alone will not ensure that you get a rewarding job. In the modern context, the people who hire you are very interested in whether you have "transferable skills". These are skills or abilities that are relevant and helpful across various disciplines. For this, you need to demonstrate that you are keen to learn and develop multiple skillsets.
Lifelong learning also makes sense from a financial stand-point. The more skills and knowledge you amass, the more you become an asset to your company. This will accelerate the chances of you getting promoted, and earning more.
And, this is not something that applies only for young executives. I have instances of my own family members relaunching their careers that took them to uncharted territory but brought them huge success.
My father was an educator for his entire work-life until mandatory retirement. In his later years, he embraced technology as a teaching tool. And, at the age of 69, he became the dean of the education faculty at an online university.
My wife trained and worked as a conventional veterinarian and veterinary surgeon until she was 40. Then, she decided to pivot, and go back to educating herself to become qualified as a holistic veterinarian. Today, she one of the few fully holistic veterinarians in Southeast Asia.
You must be invested in life-long learning, evolving, and growing. If you want to have a purposeful career, with clear priorities, and experience continuous growth, do not stop learning.
