Continuous Learning Archives - Price Associates

8 Steps to Develop a Continuous Learning Plan

From Episodes 93 and 94 of The Complete Leader Podcast

As Eric Hoffer said, “In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future.”

You too can surf the waves of change—if you have developed continuous learning as a skill.

Before I wrote The Complete Leader with Randy Lisk, I didn’t have a good model to think about the skills necessary to being a good leader. I was simply focused on the day’s problems and trying to get through my to-do list to solve the most immediate issues. As a consequence, I depended much more on my instincts and intuition rather than my knowledge from learning continuously for a long time—and intuition is not always correct.

4 Ways to Grow Your Futuristic Thinking Skills

From Episodes 82 and 83 of The Complete Leader Podcast

Futuristic thinking is one of those skills that does not come easy for a lot of leaders. So, if you feel this way, you are not alone!

It’s an important skill to continuously develop as our world is constantly changing. If you aren’t thinking about the future, you might find you’ve been left behind.

Our Approach to Strategy

The approach in Optimizing Strategy for Results is unique in several ways. The book provides a simple, systematic, and structured approach to strategy. This approach is divided into three parts — preparing, creating, and optimizing strategy — and has seven stages. But this model is also dynamic at its core. Meaning that one can move back and forth between stages depending on the situation. Communication among stakeholders is emphasized throughout the process. The dynamism is critical in turbulent environments that are characterized by vulnerability, uncertainty, complexity, or ambiguity (VUCA).

Is Data Hindering Your Innovation Efforts?

Dr. Evans Baiya, InnovationManagement.se, November 2021

Five Data Missteps That Paralyze Innovation

Data can be a powerful enabler for innovation, but when used incorrectly, it can be a paralyzing force. It’s a critical component in measuring and understanding the need for innovation—if you cannot measure something, you cannot improve it. Whether you collect data based on historical perspectives or through experiments, it can bring the insights needed for truly great innovations.

Using Human Behavior to Make Better Virtual Connections at Work

By Dr. Francis Eberle

A year into the pandemic, I have noticed that some people have changed their persona on video calls. Some seem almost as if they are lost, when, before the pandemic, they were energetic and very talkative. Other people seemed to have become more outspoken, when prior they were quieter and more reserved.

To understand what is going on, we need to look to the psychological and cognitive sciences of behavior. Video calls are not the same as in-person interactions, so understandably the connections we make during these two types of connections do not occur in the same way. When people are on video calls, their behavioral tendencies differ due to that lack of connection. The approaches used in traditional communication and interaction during in-person meetings don’t work in a virtual setting.

Listening Is Hard Work!

By Dr. Lisa Aldisert

There’s no way around this: you need to work harder at listening when you’re not face to face. Generally, your people will tell you everything is fine….even when it isn’t.

For example, you may check in about progress towards a particular deadline and people will say that they’re on top of it.

Maybe they are. But maybe not.

Asking about progress may be fine for some people, but for others you may need to be much more specific. Based on the person’s response, you can continue to ask questions until you receive satisfactory answers.

Blind Spots? Not Me!

By Ron Price

Do you have someone in your life who drives you crazy? At least, some of the time? I suspect we all do. Quite often, the thing that frustrates us is that we see something they don’t see. We recognize their behavior as being overly self-serving, egotistical, or even self-limiting. We may feel they shirk responsibility, carry an attitude of entitlement, or complain about others without realizing their own weaknesses.

It doesn’t seem to matter whether it is in our family, our businesses, or our social circles; we all have some folks who get us agitated.

Take Charge of Your Learning

By Ron Price

“I no longer say, ‘I learned this’.”

This was advice I received from one of my mentors back in the ‘90s. He said, “As soon as I think I have learned something, I discover I haven’t learned enough, and I have to start learning all over again. It doesn’t matter whether it is about business, my relationships, or even me. I have chosen to say, ‘I am learning’ from now on instead of ‘I learned’.”

At first, I thought my mentor was just having some fun with syntax and language. However, as I have grown older, I have come to realize the wisdom in his statement. We do learn, but never enough to be able to assume that we have learned all that there is to learn on any specific subject. Read More

How Can Challenges Inspire You To Think Differently

Dr. Francis Eberle, HR.com, November 2020

When I was in graduate school for my doctoral degree, I submitted a paper to a well-respected professor. Afterward, he asked to meet and inquired whether English was my second language. It wasn’t. At the time, I was working full time, had a young family and commuted 1.5 hours each way to the school several nights a week, getting home at midnight. I was often very tired. I could have blamed these circumstances, but I knew better.

7 Powerful Results of Nuturing Innovation

Dr. Evans Baiya, HR.com, November 2020

In my work, I hear a lot of reasons why people don’t engage in innovation: “That’s not part of my job description.” “I’m not and idea person.” “Innovation doesn’t really apply to my industry.” “We don’t need innovation right now. Our company is doing just fine.” “Our workforce is already well trained.” “The CEO is the one who comes up with new ideas.

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