not only today, but also in the future.
As an EA, enabling the success of the leaders
you support is core to your role. Understanding
their objectives, the challenges they face and how
you can help, demands constant learning. The
more you understand about what they do and how
they need to go about it, the better positioned you
are to influence an executive’s priorities, decision
making and actions.
Maintain purpose
So many people choose to slog through the
final years of their career doing a job that lacks
meaning. Some believe they have little choice,
in most part due to their age and ability to learn
something new. The reality is these people have
many options if they choose to not only see, but
also take them. Finding purpose in our work often
requires making courageous choices and stepping
outside of our comfort zone.
It’s important to understand that each of us
is unique and therefore energised, or drained by
different things. However, in many ways we are
alike. Common among most of us is the need for
a sense of purpose and meaning in our life. Our
values, interests, capabilities and experiences all
influence our ability to do meaningful work.
The strength of our spirit is ultimately
influenced by the extent to which we believe the
work we do truly matters. One person for example
may be energised by an altruistic purpose, such as
working for a not for profit organisation tackling
social issues. Another may find purpose and
meaning in providing advice that allows people to
achieve financial security.
Learning is essential to both our ability to make
a positive difference in whatever career path
we choose, and change direction to secure roles
we’d rather play. No matter how far along in your
career, it’s never too late to change direction if
that’s what you really want to do.
Keep giving
Some people choose to contribute to their
profession or community well beyond retirement;
whether that be through volunteer work or
mentoring. For many, the ability to keep sharing
their knowledge, skills and experience with others
is essential to their happiness in later life.
Learning is important to our ability to play
these roles well and gain a sense of achievement
through the experience. It’s unfortunate that some
people hesitate to volunteer their services due to a
lack of confidence in their ability to add value. Let
other people decide if there is a role for you to play
and step up with confidence to the challenge of
learning new skills or ways of working. S
How to keep learning
Some of the most important steps you can take to keep learning
throughout your career and life include these:
Know what you want and why
Most people are more likely to invest in learning when they
have a clear goal in mind. Understanding precisely what you
want to achieve will allow you to see what you need to learn.
Understanding why you want to achieve what you do, will make
a big difference to your ability to find the strength to keep going if
things get challenging.
Ask for help
If unsure of your options, seek the guidance of a coach or mentor.
A coach will help you to think through the issue and reach
decisions that work best for you. A mentor will share their lessons
learned along a similar journey. Talk to friends and family who
have experiences they can share or observations of you that may
help you to gain greater clarity.
Don’t wait for other people to extend an offer of help. If you
can benefit from the wisdom or experience of another person,
have the courage to ask for their guidance. Worst case scenario
they’ll say no.
Reflect on experience
Look back on past circumstances or events and understand what
worked well and what didn’t. Reflect on whether you would do
things differently if you had your time again. Reflect regularly on
how your strengths are enabling your success and ways in which
you still need to learn and grow.
Listen to understand
All too often people focus on justifying their position over
listening to what others can offer. Have you ever tried to teach
someone who was frustrated and more interested in arguing than
listening? If you have you’ll probably appreciate the obstacle their
emotions place in the way of their learning.
We can all learn from other people if we are willing to listen
and seek to understand. That is, understand not only what they
are saying, but also why. Equally important is your ability to
listen to the conversations happening in your mind. Recognise,
for example, when you are talking yourself out of putting your
hand up to learn a new skill because you fear failure.
Learn with others
Spend time with people who share your interests and are
willing to learn together. Look for peers across your industry
or profession that you believe will challenge your thinking and
deepen your insights. The ways in which you learn together can
vary depending on your preferences. For example, some people
choose to join professional associations or groups, while others
prefer to work alongside someone and bounce ideas off them as
they arise.
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Issue 2 2019 | Chief of Staff 57