What is continuous learning and what are its benefits?

Continuous learning, also known as adult education, is a term used to describe the process of acquiring new skills and knowledge throughout one's lifetime. It has gained increased attention in recent years due to its many advantages. In previous articles we explored the worlds of self-learning, workplace learning, and lifelong learning. We talked about the benefits they bring and why they’re important. In this article, we will explore a sort of amalgamation of the latter two. We’ll talk about what it entails and how the benefits of continuous learning can impact both  personal and professional growth. 

What is continuous learning?

When you look at the term itself it might seem that it is the same thing as lifelong learning and nobody can fault you for that. They’re both concerned with learning after school and college and they’re both focused on continuous advancement. The difference here is that continuous learning is done in a more formalized setting as opposed to practicing self-learning in lifelong learning. 

Continuous learning can be, for example, taking an additional training course to hone your skills or expand your skillset for work. At Transcom, we recognize that learning and advancing is basically a human need, that’s why we work to offer as many advancement opportunities for our employees as possible in the form of Transcom University which is a cloud platform for learning, advancement, and collaboration. 

Why continuous learning is important.

Continuous learning is a key part of personal and professional growth. As we live in an ever-changing world, adapting to new environments, technologies, and best practices is essential for staying competitive and advancing our careers. From developing skills that make us marketable to employers to building knowledge that allows us to better serve customers or colleagues, the benefits of continuous learning are immense. 

Staying relevant.

This is fast becoming less of a benefit and more of a necessity. From being ahead of the curve to not getting left behind. Because technology is evolving at such a rapid pace new, fresh systems, platforms, and tools are being developed each and every day. If you practice continuous learning this shouldn’t be as much of a problem. 

Actively participating in webinars, seminars, and demonstrations will give you a leg up and create a basis for self-learning later on because you won’t have to learn everything from scratch. 

Staying marketable.

Relevancy goes hand in hand with marketability. Showing initiative and being able to master the newest technologies will present you in the best light possible. Learning new techniques and tools can help you become a more sought-after professional that can make valuable contributions to your organization, and those are just some of the benefits of continuous learning

By honing old and acquired skills and expanding your knowledge you become the prime candidate for more complex and important tasks. This will not only make you a more valuable asset to your current employer, but it will also help you stay marketable when it comes time to look for a new job.

Vertical and horizontal mobility.

We already talked about how continuously learning and advancing your skills can make you more marketable, but it can also make you a prime candidate for a promotion. Taking part in company-organized classes and courses shows agency, a willingness to learn, and that you care about yourself and your work.

On the other hand, it can provide you with an opportunity to switch lanes in a way by offering a greater pool of horizontal mobility options. In the simplest terms, the more you know, the more you know how to do it, the more you can do. Horizontal mobility is also a great way to advance your career because a lateral move can open up many possibilities for a vertical one. 

Boost in confidence. 

Apart from the extrinsic motivations and benefits of continuous learning, there are also intrinsic factors to consider. Having a firm grasp of a subject and a concrete knowledge of the same causes you to be more confident in your work and, in the end, yourself. By implementing continuous learning you can give yourself all the confidence you need to reach your full potential.

That’s why we always say that it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and focus on things you might not be as good at. Taking care to improve at your weakest point can only be rewarding in the long run, both at your workplace and out of it. Knowing that you can successfully tackle your weaknesses means that there is very little that can stand in your way.

Self-fulfillment.

Another big factor is that learning shouldn’t just be a means to an end but also a goal in and of itself. We humans are curious by nature and that means that learning is deeply ingrained in our very beings. The possibility of one day being able to use the knowledge you’ve acquired or to put into practice the skills you’ve learned is a great motivator, but even just knowing that you can do something is fundamentally rewarding and fulfilling. 

Transcom’s value ‘We’re lifelong learners.’ represents both Transcom’s view of the importance of constantly one-upping yourself in a work environment, but also the fact that we value and actively nurture that ingrained human need to learn. 

Leading by example.

The last focus will be on leaders of any level, from leaders of temporary teams to CEOs. It is always important to think about how your actions influence others. Apart from all of the other benefits that we’ve listed, you should also want to continuously learn in order to set a great example to your team, colleagues, and peers. 

By showing that there’s always more to learn whatever your position may be, you show the importance of learning and never being content with what you know. That kind of inspiration, making people around you feel like they can and want to be better, is the mark of a true leader