As we hurtle towards the end of 2022, it’s time to take stock, review the year that was, and create plans for 2023. I’m having lots of conversations with business owners and entrepreneurs at the moment and I’m hearing a lot of:

‘I’m having a learning ban next year – I’m focusing on doing!’’.

And while this might seem like a good idea if you’re keen to take action, I’d like to offer an alternative perspective. And that is, you don’t need a learning ban – you need a learning plan!

A learning plan or strategy enables a company (no matter how big or small) to improve its competitiveness, productivity, and profitability through learning. Making it an integral part of your planning brings you closer to reaching your business goals. 

So, do you have one? 

In this two part series, you’ll discover how to create a learning strategy that is focused on helping you to grow and develop as an individual AND moves your business forward with a great ROI. 

Binge read the blog right here or join in daily on Instagram over the next couple of weeks. 

REVIEW and REFLECT

Step 1 

Let’s get started by answering the following questions: 

• What’s been the most impactful learning for you in 2022? Think carefully – was it a digital course, a group program, participating in a mastermind, working 1:1 with a coach or mentor, or something else? 

• What did you learn? Was it knowledge, skills, behaviours? Anything else?

• What benefits did this learning experience bring for you personally? 

• What benefits did this learning experience bring for your business? 

• To what extent did you implement the learning? 

• If you could identify 3 things that made this particularly impactful, what would they be? 

Step 2

Now let’s flip that thinking to the not-so-stellar experiences: 

• What’s been the least impactful learning for you in 2022? Think carefully – was it a digital course, a group program, participating in a mastermind, working 1:1 with a coach or mentor, or something else? 

• What benefits did this learning experience bring for you personally and your business? 

• To what extent did you implement the learning?

• What made this learning experience less than stellar? 

Step 3

This step might be a little uncomfortable (I know it is for me!) but there’s helpful data to be mined here that can support you going forward. 

Get really curious when you’re answering the questions in this section and there’s no shame or blame, just self-compassion and increasing self-awareness. 

• How many courses and programs have you bought but not completed? You can think of 2022 or go back even further. Do an audit – check back through your emails and bookmarks – look for ebooks, guides, digital courses, short or long, big or small, and make a list of all of them. I always find courses I’ve completely forgotten about when I do this – gathering dust on a digital shelf 😬

• For each of the courses, consider the following and get compassionately curious:
  • Why did you buy it? Was it on a whim? Were you drawn in by the hype or a brilliant sales page? Were you experiencing doubt in your skills or imposter syndrome? Were you ‘procrastilearning’ – I’ll just learn this one last thing before I…’ 
  • Why didn’t you complete it? Did life get in the way? Did you get bored or left behind? Was the course mediocre or did it not live up to its promises? 

Again, no blame or shame, and always remain curious and compassionate towards yourself – we’re only looking for learning and self-awareness. 

Step 4

It’s now time to put it all together and review all of your answers in steps 1-3. 

• What patterns are emerging:
  • About what works for you in terms of the mode of learning (1:1, group programs, self-paced courses, ebooks, podcasts…) and importantly, what doesn’t? 
  • About your reasons for buying into learning experiences? 

• What are your three biggest insights about yourself and your learning habits that can help you to create your learning strategy for 2023? 

Well done! You’re halfway to creating a learning strategy that can boost performance, productivity, and positivity in 2023. 

Tune back in next week to design your business boosting learning strategy!

And if you’d like some support to review, reflect, and create your learning strategy, you can book a call here.