The Value of a Learning Mindset

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(charming music) Welcome to the value of a learning mindset. In these lessons, you'll discover how to develop a learning mindset. We'll address the difference between hard and soft skills and personal and professional development. You'll also learn some ways you can motivate yourself to learn and maintain these beneficial habits throughout your life. Let's start with some questions. Do you think learning can only take place at certain times and places? Is it something we do only in classrooms in our youth or when we're trying to earn a degree or a certification? There are probably many people who would answer yes to these questions, but that isn't necessarily the best way to think about learning. Instead, we can develop and maintain a learning mindset. This means we make learning a lifelong habit and pursue new topics with excitement. People with a learning mindset are intrinsically motivated to explore novel concepts and information, rather than learning only when it's necessary or because they'll get something out of it. Having a learning mindset means you're always on the lookout for new and interesting ideas and opportunities for self-improvement. This learning can take many forms. We can learn hard skills like a foreign language or a new computer program, or we can learn more immeasurable abilities, known as soft skills. These are skills like effective communication, teamwork or public speaking. Both types of skills can be acquired in formal settings, like classrooms or online courses or obtained independently by researching on your own. We can learn either for personal or professional development, and occasionally these categories overlap. Learning for personal development usually involves our interests and goals outside the office, like trying yoga, learning to play chess or reading a novel. Learning for a professional development involves practicing skills that are specifically meant to help you in your chosen career path. You might earn an advanced degree or take a course on a computer program that is relevant in your industry. It's not uncommon for personal development to overlap with professional development. Reading can likely improve skills like vocabulary and written communication that will benefit you in office communications. The benefits of developing a learning mindset are countless, whether you're focusing on personal or professional development. Learning for your professional development can increase your ability to succeed in your career, increase respect from your peers and give you a higher chance for a promotion or raise. The advantages of learning for your personal development are harder to measure, but perhaps even more beneficial. This kind of learning can go even further as you work on developing your entire self both in and out of the office. When we enjoy learning about the world we live in, life can be even more fascinating. Having an expanded and enriched worldview is priceless. The more you understand about the world around you, the more you'll enjoy every aspect of your life.