What it’s like learning outside of your discipline

I was a teacher, specifically an agriculture teacher for a decade. One thing that we pride ourselves on was being a “jack of all trades, master of none.” Over my career I taught close to twenty different classes, most years teaching upwards of 6 different subjects. That kind of daily mind gymnastics bounding from one topic to another makes your brain expand in many different ways. 

Truly, I was gifted with the opportunity to be flexible and work outside of my zone of genius daily. 

Many industries don’t allow for this. You typically “stay in your lane” and do the work that you’ve been asked to do. So let me ask you… when was the last time you decided to step outside of your zone of genius?

While it might seem like staying in your one lane is the best thing to do, overspecialising can actually be detrimental to your career and business.

Being able to learn in a broad spectrum can help you achieve more in your current career and even move up. There are three values of learning outside of your discipline. Let’s take a look. 

Three Values of Learning Outside Your Discipline

Learn new skills

Think about all the skills you need to do your job well. It’s a long list right? I can almost bet that some of those skills on your list are beneficial in other careers.

Like time management, hello! What about collaboration with team members or conversations with a client? You can decide to take some time to learn about more broad skills needed for your career.

For example, you might be a course creator for health/wellness but stepping outside of your niche and learning about email marketing might benefit you greatly.

What about if you are a teacher? Could taking a project management course help you gain skills in “getting it all done”?

Your new skills will help you elevate where you are in your career and allow you to enhance the skills you already have.

Alternate Thinking

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and they simply say something that just blows your mind? It’s because you have never even ventured to think the way they think – how amazing right?!

When you look at a problem or situation from a different vantage point you are able to get your brain to work in new and different ways.

I distinctly remember going to a conference session on history, not my favorite subject. What I walked away with was a new learning strategy I had never thought of to use in my classes about timelines. Who knew? Certainly not me. I had to immerse myself into something new to be able to gain that new knowledge. 

Improve your work 

You’ve heard how the saying goes… “An old dog can’t learn new tricks.” Well, I call bull! 

Humans are habitual, it’s in our nature. What you do in your job daily starts to become habitual.

When you take a step back and implement some new skills or techniques from outside of your discipline you may be able to improve your work. You get to avoid the “same old, same old” practices of old. You get to improve yourself and your work all at once.

And bonus? I bet your boss will be happy to see the new coming from you!

I recently wrote about this on LinkedIn and my friend Shelley mentioned she recently took up learning about pastries and it has been blowing her mind. She is an entrepreneur, communications director, coach and professional pianist.

Could you easily say this drive to learn about pastries isn’t beneficial to her? You could… but I would push you and ask why you think that.

Because the truth is that she is creating new neural pathways in her brain.

She is learning about processes. She is learning about directions. She is learning about patience. She is learning about trial and error. She is learning about quality control. She is learning about trying new things. She is learning from experimenting. 

All of those things can help her in truly any career. 

And the same can be true for you too. 

There is no need to pigeon hole yourself into one area of growth.

You can build a library of skills and knowledge that will benefit you as a whole person. If you want to learn it, go for it. It is still beneficial to your brain and your whole self even if it isn't career driven. 

Because at the end of the day learning doesn’t have to be results driven. 

And if you want to dive into learning in 2024, join educators from across the country at Germinate Empowered. Registration closes on Saturday January 6, 2024. 

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