September - October 2001  

Staying Current: Tips, Strategies and Solutions

by Terrance Malkinson

Dinosaur thinking maintains that career obsolescence is inevitable, that performance peaks at age 40 and then declines. No real evidence exists to substantiate this thinking. Today's business environment no longer offers career-long job security; workers cannot simply drift into retirement while collecting a salary. Each employee must contribute value to the business, and many companies track performance daily. Those who do not add more value than they remove in remuneration end up like the dinosaur — replaced by more agile individuals.

One of the best ways to maintain or add to your value at work is to implement a strategy to keep your knowledge and skills current. Consider incorporating some of these tools to take action.

The Internet: Easy Access to Knowledge

Simply put, the Internet is a "knowledge repository." We are all familiar with its capabilities and its potential. It is easy to access, easy to search, and holds an enormous collection of easy-to-retrieve bits and bytes of valuable information. Use its tools effectively and with purpose, but do not rely on it as the sole source of information.

Network, Network, Network

Networking with peers provides plenty of opportunity for learning and gaining insight. Few activities can match the intellectual stimulation that results from engaging in good conversation. Develop a network of individuals with whom you can share ideas. Take the time to talk to both the young and the elderly. The creative enthusiasm of the young and the wisdom of the old will both give you valuable insight and will add breadth to your own experiences.

You can also form a discussion or research group and meet regularly. Choose a different member to facilitate each meeting. Such networking provides you with the opportunity to learn from others, and lead discussions as well.

Industry trade shows and conferences provide additional learning and networking opportunities. These events allow visitors and participants to network in a non-threatening environment. In addition, vendors display their new products and offer seminars, acting as valuable sources of current information. Develop business relationships with them.

Seek Out-of-the-Ordinary Challenges

Don't be trapped by formal, narrow job descriptions. Move outside of your core job area and probe the limits of your influence. Seek out and accept work assignments that are challenging and have high visibility and exposure. Develop business relationships with people in your organization who are successful and can provide mentoring and advice and who can promote your capabilities to senior managers. Remember, letting coworkers and superiors know what you're working on isn't bragging, it's making yourself visible.

Go Back to School

Today, you needn't feel inhibited about going back to school, regardless of where you are in your career or how old you are. It is not uncommon now to see octogenarians in pursuit of graduate degrees. Professional development courses, seminars and workshops are other obvious venues for staying current. A variety of continuing education opportunities exist in a variety of formats; few will find it difficult to find options that suit their learning style, time constraints, and other unique needs. Of course, be sure to check out the credentials of the educational provider to ensure you get the quality and outcome that you want. Ask for references from former students before making your decision.

Be Radical

Consider participating in an activity that is totally out of character for you. Be an eco-tourist, visit a foreign land, learn a second language, climb a mountain. Meet, discuss and learn from and about other cultures. Such activity will increase your awareness of what is going on in the world, and will also help you look at things from a different perspective.

Read, Write and Listen

Read, read, read. Visit your public or local college library or the local bookstore. Develop a personal library of reference books and reprints. Scan a wide variety of publications, from local newspapers to newsmagazines and reference literature with a more global focus.

Observe and read biographies of successful people. Analyze why they are or were successful. In many cases, they looked continuously for emerging trends and made the effort to gain the skills necessary to take advantage of change. In others, they sought new knowledge continuously, gathering information that allowed them to recognize and act on opportunities before others.

Take the time to write an article on a subject you know well. Each of us has expertise in some area. Conducting the research, doing the writing, and subjecting your article to a peer review will facilitate knowledge currency.

In addition to reading and writing, develop an ear for radio, a convenient and timeless source of information. Many public and international radio broadcasters offer informative discussions on topics of current interest, as well as interviews with successful people. Their broadcasts will give you an interesting global perspective, from which you can gain a lot.

Stop, Look and Listen — to Yourself

Take time to reflect and examine where you are and where you want to go. Take a sabbatical or a leave of absence. You may think you can't afford to, but you may not be able to afford not to. By taking a complete break from your work responsibilities, you will be able to focus on learning new skills and can plan your path for the future.

What Do You Need to Do?

Career success means different things to different people. Two things are ubiquitous for success: an inquisitive mind that seeks out new knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge. Develop your own personal strategy for maintaining your knowledge and skills, and then do it. A few minutes a day will reap benefits for years to come.

Terrance Malkinson is a proposal manager/documentation specialist with the Engagement Services Organization of GE Capital IT Solutions Inc.