It’s the secret to sustainable success: if you’re happy, you’re motivated, and if you’re motivated, you’re going to outperform. And a large driver of being happy and motivated can be learning. If you’re learning, you’re probably growing.
This may come as a surprise, but think about it—learning is the pathway to bigger and better opportunities, and that translates into greater engagement and having the satisfaction that you’re making a difference.
In my mind, the people who aren’t trying to learn on the job are actually at the most risk of being miserable. They hate their work, but the problem is more than the usual suspects—a boorish boss, a horrible commute, a dysfunctional department. The root cause of their sadness is the rut they’ve created. Research bears this out: according to Korn Ferry’s global employee opinion database, 76 percent of employees who feel intrinsically motivated exceed their performance expectations, compared to 60 percent for those who feel extrinsically motivated.
And there are extrinsic benefits, too. Learning is the number one determinant of how much you’ll earn over your career. That’s why every job you take should come with ample learning opportunities, so that you’re better positioned for the next move and the one after that. People who are curious and take risks are often the best learners. Until ...
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