Welcome to the “Age of Adaptability”
Questioning becomes even more critical in an environment of constant change
A New York Times article, “To Stay Relevant in a Career, Workers Train Nonstop,” talks about how everyone from tech entrepreneurs to car repairmen to teachers are struggling to keep pace with the change that’s happening all around them. New technologies, changing methods and practices, an explosion of information—it’s all creating a perfect storm in which no one, regardless of their level of expertise, can afford to stand pat.
“The need to constantly adapt is the new reality for many workers,” the Times’ Sheila Dewan writes in the article. She adds that these workers “are often left to figure out for themselves what new skills will make them more valuable, or just keep them from obsolescence.”
Your learning days aren’t over yet
As the readers of this blog know, I tend to view everything through the lens of questioning, and so, no surprise, I see this as another example of why the ability to question is becoming more important than ever.
People who used to be comfortably ensconced in the role of “expert” didn’t have to question; they had the answers, they possessed the knowledge. But what happens when you live in a time when much of that knowledge is subject to constant change, revision, or even obsolescence? Well, then you can’t be a comfortable expert anymore—you must be a restless learner. You have to continually update and add to your knowledge. You must constantly question everything you “know.” And be willing to inquire about the many things you don’t know.
Step back before diving into training
The article talks about people taking lots of training courses, and that’s all well and good. But before doing that, it’s important to consider some fundamental questions: How is my field/industry changing? What trends are having the most impact on my business, and how is that likely to play out over the next few years? Which of my existing skills are most useful and adaptable in this new environment—and what new ones do I need to add? Should I diversify more—or focus on deepening my expertise in one area?
These are not easy questions to answer. You can’t just Google them—you must grapple with them. They demand quiet reflection, study, observation, discussion with others, planning, and various forms of experimentation that may start with small steps and end with big ones. But it all begins with the asking.
“Why has a book like this never been written before? Here is a persuasive case for the simple and yet extraordinary power of a question. Fascinating, engaging stories give life to a strong argument about how much can be accomplished, in every domain of our lives, ‘just’ by asking questions. Innovators, entrepreneurs, citizens, parents, teachers, idealists and realists—all of us have much to gain by reading 
“Questions have literally moved mountains, powered rockets, and instantly developed images. Berger focuses on what he calls ‘Beautiful Questions’… that can lead to game-changing answers and results. These are questions that, once raised, tend to get people thinking in a different way.”
“The desire to ask bigger and better questions is on the rise… Warren Berger has been tracking a movement toward questioning that is running very strong in Silicon Valley, but also seems to be spreading throughout the business, nonprofit and education sectors.”
Career ‘lego’ rather than career ladder (Dan Pink). http://www.winningbysharing.net/bp.asp
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