It is increasingly understood that in order to survive in today’s business climate, you must continually develop skills relating to your work. Whether the skill development comes through a formal activity such as a diploma or certificate, job training, or just a great business book, the opportunities for development are endless and powerful. It seems that many are getting on board with this idea. An Australian Bureau of Statistics report on social trends released in 2010 revealed that in the previous year, 1.5 million Australian workers (15% of all employed people) were studying for a formal non-school qualification. Almost all workers (80%) took part in some form of informal learning in the previous 12 months.
Generally, ongoing education can create a highly skilled or specialised workforce, make you adaptable and cross-functional, develop confidence and give you the chance to reign in your strategic vision. Increased innovation and productivity are also potential outcomes, as another Australian Bureau of Statistics report revealed that those businesses able to innovate due to access to knowledge and technology also experience increased productivity, business growth and profitability.
Though the statistics are convincing, notable Australian businesswomen attest their success to the role of education, learning or mentoring. This month HerBusiness undertakes the My Favourite Business Book campaign to celebrate the importance of continued learning and self-education. If you have found yourself asking “can something like a business book really do all that?” their revelations are for you.
Amelia Lee of DC8 Studio believes that ongoing learning and self education is “fundamentally essential – not only for your thinking, learning new tools and helping create new ideas – it also provides some essential time outside the day-to-day activity of your business where your focus can be ‘on’ your business, rather than ‘in’ it, and identify where you can stretch possibilities.”
Galmatic’s Eleni Mitakos asserts, “what it does more than anything is allow you to enjoy the experience of business, and you feel a part of peoples lives and experiences, without even knowing them.” Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame Inductee Christine Kris Macauley from Robbo’s Harley Davidson believes that “education opens doors,” having continually developed her business alongside academic pursuits: a Bachelor degree in Communications, a Masters degree and an ongoing PhD. Helen Summers from Eyecare Plus Darwin says that “mentoring is vital…select trusted mentors for yourself to be sounding boards, and advisers for personal and career decisions.” Amanda Blair from Corban and Blair firmly believes that “learning, sharing, growing and experimenting should be something you do most days. The market is in constant flux and we all need to keep up.” The benefits are bountiful where continued business education is concerned. Crucially we can correlate ongoing learning with many beneficial outcomes. Evidenced by the opinion of successful Australian businesswomen, continued business education is something we need to regard as an opportunity ripe for the taking, vital for survival in a constantly changing environment.
