Keep Learning

Learning a new software program is not easy. But learning new skills or sharpening existing skills is critical for success. I’ve seen too many people become complacent with their current knowledge. I have worked with people who have been using Excel for years and consider themselves experts. It turns out, they have simply been working in the same workbook that was setup in a certain format, using the same features over and over. This person comes to believe that they are an expert because they have mastered the minimal skills that they learned years ago.

How do you keep up-to-date? How do you learn new skills?

There are several ways to get yourself learning.

Work is the best place to learn, by putting your knowledge in practice. If you are part of a group of people, it can become easy to rely on the resident expert though. Try working through the problem yourself first before calling for help. If you are currently keeping a list on paper, think about how you might be able to use Excel to create this list.

You may not always have the opportunity to apply your skills at work or take the time to learn something new. You can invent your own project and develop the skill during your free time. When I teach an Excel class, I always have someone tell me that they don’t get to use Excel at work and are afraid they will forget everything they have learned. One project I always recommend is creating a budget using Excel. You can practice number formatting, alignment, borders and formulas. And a budget is just a good thing to have.

You can also take online courses or watch videos. If you can think it, you can search it. Instructional YouTube videos can be helpful for finding a quick tutorial on how to do something. You can also find full course offerings. You do have to be committed to completing the course and practicing.

An actual instructor led course is a great way to go. It is nice to ask questions immediately as they pop in your head or as you run into problems. I always enjoy the interaction with other people. Someone always has a question that I find interesting and simply did not think of. I like seeing the light bulb go off as someone realizes how to apply a feature we are learning to a work project.

I often go to the library and check out a book on the topic I want to learn more about. I like the feel of a book in my hand and flipping the pages. If the book seems like it will be a good reference, I will even purchase it. Then I can do another favorite of mine – highlight.

The best way to go is a combination of all these methods. Different methods will meet your needs at different times. Simply never stop learning.

Software will continue to change rapidly. There will always be a newer version coming out or another program you need to learn.

Thanks to the Internet, you can find material about any application you want to learn.  With dedication and discipline you can continuously acquire new skills.