I recently revisited the startling statistic from Bersin by Deloitte that the modern learner has only 1% of the typical workweek to focus on Learning & Development (great infographic BTW – find it here https://www.bersin.com/Practice/Detail.aspx?id=18071).
Since I advocate playing to my strengths I tend leave maths up to my colleagues normally, but if we work a typical 40 hour week I make that just 24 minutes. 24 MINUTES!
24 minutes to evolve, innovate, learn, grow – which we all know is absolutely critical to the success of our businesses – to focus on improving ourselves. I appreciate I am a little biased when it comes to all things development given my passion revolves around helping others achieve their potential but it definitely got me thinking. Let me explain; the reason I revisited this statistic is down to the fact I find myself in a situation where my resource is totally stretched. This week I’ve found myself having to re-prioritise workload as I have had to absorb another role at short notice, and I have key deliverables that will require my presence (in body and mind) that a month ago I wasn’t expecting.
Dealing with the unexpected is a natural part of adult life, personally and professionally, so I simply employed some tried and trusted measures to re-evaluate and re-assess. I got my new priorities sorted.
However, it’s meant I’ve had to say no (nicely) a bit more. And in one conversation, the other individual considered what this meant. They asked “What will I do?” And this got me thinking. What can they do? And in to my head popped the 1% statistic.
If we consider this statistic more closely, if this really is the case (a super quick, totally unscientific poll of those nearest me resulted in an even scarier result of perhaps it’s even less than 24 minutes), what does it mean for what we do? How do we maximise this minimal time? How do we focus this so that it drives the biggest impact for both the individual and the business?
I continued to think; we should throw them a bone. As true enablers of success in any business we support BEGINNINGS – rewarding and motivating that great behaviour to develop (and it might have a knock on effect to encourage others). It’s absolutely critical that whenever an individual finds themselves with their 1% of time, they should have OPTIONS, so lots of choice on the particular topic they want to learn about. Giving someone something NEW leads to greater engagement – and by new, I don’t just mean new content but new ways of discovering information, different ways of learning. They should find what they need EASILY so all options should be accessible in one place – its just common sense when someone is time poor.
I know for me now, I’ll always be thinking about how I can throw someone a bone.
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