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| Photo: Travis Bradberry |
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| Carol Dweck's research indicates that in order to reach our full potential, we should never stop learning. Photo: REUTERS/Neil Hall |
The further along you are in your career, the easier it is to fall
back on the mistaken assumption that you’ve made it and have all the
skills you need to succeed. The tendency is to focus all your energy on
getting the job done, assuming that the rest will take care of itself.
Big mistake.
New research from Stanford tells the story. Carol Dweck and her colleagues conducted a study with people who were struggling with their performance. One group was taught to perform better on a task that they performed poorly in. The other group received a completely different intervention: for the task that they performed badly in, they were taught that they weren’t stuck and that improving their performance was a choice. They discovered that learning produces physiological changes in the brain, just like exercise changes muscles. All they had to do was believe in themselves and make it happen.
When the groups’ performance was reassessed a few months later, the group that was taught to perform the task better did even worse. The group that was taught that they had the power to change their brains and improve their performance themselves improved dramatically.
The primary takeaway from Dweck’s research is that we should never
stop learning. The moment we think that we are who we are is the moment
we give away our unrealized potential.
The act of learning is every bit as important as what you learn.
Believing that you can improve yourself and do things in the future that
are beyond your current possibilities is exciting and fulfilling.
Still, your time is finite, and you should dedicate yourself to
learning skills that will yield the greatest benefit. There are nine
skills that I believe fit the bill because they never stop paying
dividends. These are the skills that deliver the biggest payoff, both in
terms of what they teach you and their tendency to keep the learning
alive.
Emotional intelligence (EQ). EQ is the “something” in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions that achieve positive results. EQ is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships. Decades of research now point to EQ as the critical factor that sets star performers apart from the rest of the pack. It’s a powerful way to focus your energy in one direction, with tremendous results.
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| Photo: REUTERS/Oswaldo Rivas |
"Four key findings of educational preferences from a 2016 Pew Research Center survey of 19 countries."
Source: World Economic Forum
