Top 3 traits of continuous learners (and why they are important)

Posted on Friday, 19th November 2021 17:29. Submitted by ILX Marketing Team
Updated on Monday, 25th March 2024 11:57

The world of business is constantly evolving, which means organisations frequently need to adapt to stay ahead of the curve. Project management teams are a key part of this, as they are instrumental in driving business change, implementing new processes, and leading projects to success. As a result, continuous learning is a strategic necessity for anyone working within project teams.

What is continuous learning?

Continuous learning is the process of constantly seeking out new knowledge, skills and experiences to enhance personal and professional growth. It covers all types of learning – formal, social and self-directed – and involves actively engaging in activities such as reading, attending workshops or seminars, taking courses, on-the-job interactions and mentorships.

Why is continuous learning important?

Project managers invested in continuous learning can adapt to change more easily and remain up to date with new technologies and best practice frameworks and stay relevant within their field. A focus on continuous learning means project professionals are better prepared to navigate unexpected challenges and deal with unexpected obstacles that often surface during projects.

By continuously looking for opportunities to learn and develop their skillset, project managers can develop expertise in specialised areas, helping to set them apart from the competition in their current role or when looking for promotion.

Learn more about the impact continuous learning can have on your cognitive health.

Traits to have for continuous learning:

These are the top three traits to recognise and develop:

A growth mindset

Only through continuous growth can we be equipped to successfully navigate change, and individuals with a growth mindset will find this far easier than those with a steadfast mindset. Equipped with a growth mindset, continuous learners have the ambition and drive to seek out new growth opportunities. What’s more, they have developed talents and capabilities to problem solve effectively and to innovate.

The good news is a growth mindset can be learnt. First, you must recognise if you are guilty of having a static mindset. Do you treat the knowledge you possess as set-in-stone? Is your approach to work and projects led by unchanged, hard and fast rules? If so, it could be time to pursue professional development training.

View our PRINCE2® and PRINCE2 Agile® training courses.

An inquisitive nature

Gone are the days when it’s frowned upon to have a host of different jobs on your CV in favour of a ‘specialism’. A variety of roles signifies that you are curious, you have an inquisitive spirit, and that you have chased diversity in your experience. Progression is rarely linear, it sidesteps, back steps and sometimes even leaps ahead. For continuous learners, progression comes from an inquisitive nature and their hunger to know more. Individuals with an inquisitive nature can prove crucial to project teams chasing ambitious goals, as they prove they are always open to learning more and tackling new challenges.

Think back to a time when you landed a role only to discover you felt out of your depth! How did you handle this scenario? Situations like this often trigger a fight or flight reaction. Did you stick it out, take it upon yourself to learn, fill the gaps in your knowledge and rise to the challenge? That kind of initiative is what you need to channel in your everyday work! Be aware of how you act and react when you’re in unfamiliar territory. Get curious, ask questions, read and research. Talk to your colleagues too. Team members with specialisms are an untapped resource! Nurture curiosity and turn it into discovery in order to grow and progress your work.

Discover 18 steps to a brand new you.

Risk taker

The third key characteristic of a continuous learner is their desire to take risks. Playing it safe is predictable and a continuous learner prefers to find out what happens if they take the risk. Only by jumping at possibilities and opportunities can they gain knowledge. Whilst this may sound reckless to some, continuous learners have optimism. They know that risks must be taken when trying to solve problems and that even failed risks provide an opportunity for growth.

Being able to adapt to unforeseen circumstances is key to having the confidence to be a risk-taker. And so, building Agile skills will teach the ability to be responsive to the environment, and how to respond when a project changes course. To build your confidence further, simply start taking risks. Begin with small experiments and you will soon develop the bravery to take bigger leaps of faith. Be sure to always reflect and learn lessons from failures in order to grow and advance from them. You will progress your talents and your projects will triumph. Before you know it, you will thrive in taking risks!

Find out how PRINCE2 teaches you to learn from your mistakes.