Become an Agile Learner with Xenonex Coaching
Following my last blog about taking a proactive approach to learning – and encouraging those around you to do the same – I thought this was another slightly different look at the benefits of coaching as a tool to improve capacity for learning.
Taken from an original article by executive coach Monique Valcour it looks at the benefits of being an “agile” learner and ways in which coaching can support developing this mindset.
Research shows that leaders who think and act from the same assumptions and behavioural repertoires they’ve used for years are prone to stagnate, underperform, or derail. As David Peterson, director of executive coaching and leadership at Google puts it, “Staying within your comfort zone is a good way to prepare for today, but it’s a terrible way to prepare for tomorrow.” To sustain success, you must develop learning agility.
What is Learning Agility?
Learning agility is the capacity for rapid, continuous learning from experience. Agile learners are good at making connections across experiences, and they’re able to let go of perspectives or approaches that are no longer useful — in other words, they can unlearn things when novel solutions are required. People with this mindset tend to be oriented toward learning goals and open to new experiences. They experiment, seek feedback, and reflect systematically.
A desire to develop by acquiring new skills and mastering new situations is a fundamental element of learning agility. Agile learners value and derive satisfaction from the process of learning itself, which boosts their motivation as well as their capacity to learn from challenging developmental experiences.
Learning agility also involves being open to new experiences, people, and information.
How Do You Develop Learning Agility?
Since developing learning agility involves learning to recognize and change automatic routines, the aid of a coach can be invaluable. But even if you’re not working with a coach, there are steps you can take on your own to enhance your learning agility.
· Ask for feedback.
· Experiment with new approaches or behaviours.
· Look for connections across seemingly unrelated areas.
· Make time for reflection.
Practicing these strategies will help you extract the maximum learning from experience.
Those looking to learn more and develop their skills in coaching and mentoring can now register for our ILM7 open programme in Executive Coaching and Mentoring starting in Leeds in June 2016. This is an ideal qualification for those looking to lead a coach practice or work as an executive coach.
Those looking to learn more and develop their skills in coaching and mentoring can now register for our ILM7 open programme in Executive Coaching and Mentoring starting in Leeds in June 2016. It is aimed at senior managers, HR professionals and professional coaches keen to enhance and accredit their experience. It is also the ideal qualification for those looking to lead a coach practice or work as an executive coach.
The programme is designed to enable learners to critically review the role and contribution of coaching and mentoring at a senior level and helps you build a specific bank of tools and strategies designed for the corporate arena.
Xenonex is an approved ILM Centre and is recognised for the quality and standard of its training in the National ILM Hall of Fame. The Xenonex team trains internal and external coaches and has experience of developing and embedding coaching within the public and private sector.
For more information call 0113 322 9234 or email jo.watson@xenonex.co.uk.