Fostering lifelong learning is a consistent objective of business coaches.  But, in order to foster that love of learning a coach must first understand what drives others to learn and what makes then want to keep on learning.  These motivations are different for each individual.  Here are a few of the reasons why people want to learn.

Reward

Learning can be a means to an end.   In many cases the end is the reward of higher financial status.  In some organizations, salary increases are affected by the number of courses you have completed, licenses you have attained or classroom completed.  In these organizations the learning that is taking place means more money.

Personality

There are those people for whom wanting to learn about everything is just as natural as breathing.  Their insatiable curiosity about the world around them has been with them as long as they can remember.  Whether this trait is a result of nature or nurture is debatable, but for some, it’s just how it is.

To Make a Difference

For some people, the drive to make a difference in the world is very strong.  These people are compelled to keep learning in order drive change and make a difference.  If accomplishing their goal of making a difference requires learning something new, they are ready and willing.

To Stay in the Game

For some, methods and tools change rapidly in their profession and people who want to remain in the field have no choice but to keep up with the changes.  This type of learning is a necessity for remaining in a chosen field.

Fear

Certainly not a desired motivation, but, fear is sometimes the driving force behind learning.  For some their job is at risk if they don’t take courses, learn new skills or keep up with changes in their field. For these people, learning becomes another part of their job, something they have to do whether they want to or not.

These are some of the reasons why people choose to pursue continuous learning.  There are others. Probably there are as many reasons for wanting to learn something as there are things to learn.  The job of a good business coach is to try to understand what drives a person to learn, so that the coach can help them to be effective in their quest for knowledge.

Description: In order to help people develop a love of learning, a business coach must first understand what motivates them to learn.  What makes you want to learn new things?

Tags: business coach, business coaching, learning new skills, love of learning, lifelong learning, learning motivation