How often do you know everything about a job or project before you
walk through the door? How often do you know everything about a piece
of hardware or software before you have to install it or, even more
likely, teach it to someone else? The world moves too quickly these
days to possibly learn everything we need to know, before we need it.
In today's world, we are often deeply engaged in more "just-in-time" learning
than ever before. So, how does one survive in a world where we are
learning and teaching at the same time? Oddly enough, to be successful
at just-in-time learning, you actually have to make many preparations.
Traditional and more
One way of preparing for the "just-in-time" world is to learn as much
as possible about as much as possible. If you have taken classes in Cisco router
management, project management or accounting, you may have 70%-80% of the knowledge
you need to be productive. Training, classes, apprenticeships all fill the well
you will draw on in later work. You need to choose wisely, though. Overly-specific
training or classes that have limited application aren't going to help much.
You simply won't find enough opportunities to apply that knowledge. Training
on products or concepts that are nearing obsolescence won't serve you well, either.
You need knowledge that is going to be applicable in the coming months and years.
That said, nearly anything you learn can help, even if you are not
yet sure how it applies to your future work. Take, for example,
learning how to manage a coffee
bar. It has many lessons to offer that apply far outside its immediate realm.
You will learn management skills, accounting and bookkeeping, customer service
and a host of other useful skills. You can never be quite sure how you will
apply your new knowledge in the future.
Your goal in all this learning is to be able to face new challenges
by drawing on your reserves of knowledge. In an example from my
own life, it is impossible
for me to work with every piece of hardware and software on the market today.
In fact, it would foolish to even try. I would be spending hours investigating
devices and programs I might never see in the actual course of my work. Instead,
when I find myself facing an entirely new situation, I have developed enough
experience with enough devices that I can make my way through nearly any process.
Over the years, I have also discovered a host of web sites that allow
me to find
more specific information "just-in-time." Whether I am faced with an
unfamiliar virus, error message or unique piece of computer hardware, a quick
search is often all I need to move the project forward.
To some people, this "seat-of-the-pants" method can be overwhelming,
if not outright frightening. Still, it is essential for every worker, regardless
of your type of work, to apply these methods, no matter what your official job
title. You must be able to adapt, learn and apply your knowledge almost simultaneously.
Another important aspect of "just-in-time" learning is the ability
to retain the knowledge you have acquired from day-to-day and moment-to-moment.
In my own case, I use a combination of tools to "remember" information
that might be useful in the future. My first, and most important, tool, is the
journal I am writing in at the moment. I often take notes when I am with a client,
especially if faced with a particularly esoteric or challenging problem. Then,
when faced with a similar problem in the future, I don't have to try to remember
the entire solution, only a basic idea of when I first faced the situation. Then
I can simply flip through my journals to refresh my memory.
I also use online bookmarking tools, like del.icio.us, to remember
useful web sites, tech notes and online discussions. These tools
add the additional benefit
that they allow me to access the information wherever I have an Internet connection
and they contain search tools that can quickly locate the information I need.
You should develop similar tools to assist your learning and retention.
Just-in-time learning is a fact of life in today's work world, but
through active learning, and learning through experience, you will
be ready to face even the
most exotic work challenges.
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