Use It or Lose It

After we leave school and complete our degrees most people do little to no additional formal learning. However, for many of us, our jobs require us to continue our education with additional training in various areas. For some professionals, continued education is a requirement of keeping their license in whatever field they occupy. Beyond meeting any mandatory requirements, continued education is important for growing as a person as well as increasing your own positive impact on your company.

Learning is the object of teaching. Learning = training x Application. The National institute of Learning states that if you haven't used the new information in 21 days you will lose 90% of what you've learned.

Application Development

After training is completed mentoring and coaching solidifies what you've learned. A good mentor or coach should be someone who is already familiar with the area you've been trained in, who uses it on a frequent enough basis to be familiar with any new information or techniques, and who has time to instruct you when you need clarification or guidance.

Generally a mentor or coach doesn't simply provide answers to technical questions. They use their knowledge to point you in the right direction to find the answer yourself. Applying what you've learned is the only way you will retain the information and techniques you receive in any training or continued education. You want someone who will help you apply this new information and techniques not someone who simply does the work for you.

The line between mentors and coaches have blurred a little over the years. Traditionally, a mentor is an older, wiser colleague in whose footsteps you can follow and can pass on knowledge, experience, and open doors that otherwise might not be open. A coach is someone who provides additional assistance in learning and developing. They usually don't have direct experience with their client's occupational role unless the coaching is specific.

These are not air tight definitions. Some coaches do have direct experience with certain occupational roles and some mentors don't actually work in the organization or same field as the mentee. When searching for a mentor or a coach it is important to identify what you want out of the relationship, because it is a relationship, and seek someone who meets your specifications.
So now that you know, what are you waiting for? Get out there and find your perfect mentor or coach today.

Use It or Lose It