How can you “restructure and repurpose” to stay relevant – and motivated – at work? And not just once or twice but continually, throughout your career? Co-authors Karie Willyerd and Barbara Mistick urge you to develop your “stretchpertise,” or the ability to “learn on the fly, be open, create an effective network, and gather a variety of experiences”!
When it comes to your career evolution, it’s all on you, because, for better or worse, no one is going to take it in hand for you in today’s workplaces. This was the finding of two 2014 studies conducted by the co-authors of Stretch of managers and executives from around the world. To help you “future-proof yourself” and maintain a sense of purpose in your work for the long term, co-authors Willyerd and Mistick urge you to perpetually “stretch” your skills and expertise to the next level. “Stretch,” they write, “to reach beyond your capabilities of today to be ready for tomorrow; to expand your viewpoints and skills beyond your current state; to be relentlessly resourceful in pursuing your career dreams.”
YOUR DEVELOPMENT IS UP TO YOU
While the authors identify a growing trend among organizations to spend more on formal training in the coming years, the majority of learning remains up to the individual. In fact, the most frequent comment from the over 300 managers and executives interviewed by the authors about learning and development was: “It’s on me to develop myself.” So how can you take ownership of your own development? According to the authors, “Learning on the fly, combined with being open, are the foundational practices because they are about how you learn and think.”
Learning on the fly strategies
“In the learning industry, there is a common maxim introduced by the Center for Creative Leadership called the 70-20-10. The model suggests that 70 percent of learning happens informally while on the job; 20 percent of learning through relationships with others like coaches, managers or mentors; and 10 percent from formal coursework or training.” Since 70% of your real learning happens on the job, increase your ability to “learn on the fly” with the following strategies:
1. Adopt a growth mindset: “People with a growth mindset think abilities can be developed through hard work and education. They enjoy challenges.”
2. Mindfully observe: “Being intentionally aware and present helps to learn in the moment.”
3. Cultivate curiosity: “Search engines cannot do it all. We need to be curious in order to ask the right questions.”
4. Set aside time to refl ect: “Connecting the dots between experiences through reflection helps learning become permanent.”
5. Know when to unlearn: “Life is constantly changing. We have to adapt by unlearning and relearning if we want to avoid becoming obsolete.”
Be open to learning opportunities
“Being open is a key practice of people who successfully manage their careers, not only because they can adjust behaviors for better results, but also because…
