Learnability and learning agility: employability, competitiveness, success
In today’s ever-changing world, the ability to keep learning continuously is one of the most sought-after skills.
One of my most beloved mentors is a nearly 90-year-old emeritus professor. After a highly successful professional life, he continues to study even today. He has just embarked on a new university degree with the devotion and mindset of a lifelong learner.
He is a perfect example of learnability, the ability and genuine interest to keep learning continuously. Faced with disruptions, quickly outdated knowledge, and the emergence of new key skills, we can turn these risks into opportunities. Tools like curiosity, the capacity to unlearn, and learning agility help us avoid inertia and complacency.
Another exemplary case of learnability is Tim Brown’s (CEO of IDEO) theory of the T-shaped professional. This describes someone who combines deep knowledge in a specific field with the ability and motivation to learn about other disciplines. This combination significantly boosts their employability.
The future job market will be exponentially dynamic, and we’ll need to keep learning to remain competitive. An insightful observation by philosopher José Antonio Marina highlights this: young people today will need to update their knowledge and skills 10 to 14 times throughout their careers.
Curiosity and learning agility—both the speed and willingness to adapt to environmental changes—are perfect complements to learnability on this journey of continuous transformation.
Learning agility, first conceptualized by Robert Sternberg and later developed by consultancies like Korn Ferry, has become a key predictor of success and future potential. A report by the Fundación Factor Humano delves into this vital skill, which is built on the following principles:
- Mental agility: A deep capacity for problem analysis, original perspectives, and comfort with complexity and ambiguity, paired with a need to communicate ideas clearly to others.
- People agility: High levels of self-awareness, learning from experience, constructive interpersonal skills, resilience under pressure, and the ability to remain calm amidst change.
- Change agility: Curiosity, passion for ideas, and an eagerness to experiment with hypotheses and innovate.
- Results agility: The ability to achieve results under challenging conditions while inspiring others to perform beyond expectations.
Learnability, curiosity, and learning agility are the pillars of a growth mindset—essential for facing life’s ups and downs with courage and a play-to-win attitude.