As individuals and organizations look at different ways to maximize their continuous improvement efforts, one special option would be to encourage everyone to become a “A Student of the Job”!  There have been a few TRIPLE III TIME messages when I have gotten close to addressing this concept specifically but not as a single, direct topic…and never with the goal of identifying quality continuous improvement areas that would enable you to take a very personal approach to professional growth.

So first imagine if you were opening a textbook written about your job.  What would you learn about its history…where it started and what it has become today?  Whether its priorities have remained the same…customers changed… or performance factors shifted?

Next, as you proceed through the textbook chapters, think about how it might discuss the events and actions that have impacted your job over the years. Maybe it would ask what political or economic factors have influenced the growth/decline/limits related to your job?  Possibly the textbook would assess your job as critical in today’s and tomorrow’s world-of-work… or is it on the extinct list? Finally, the textbook should include what people say about/understand the value of what you do… or how it is taken for granted?

The last segment of the textbook about your job would contain a long list of “WHAT ELSE?!” ideas/opportunities/progressions that would qualify as continuous improvements.  As “A Student of the Job” I believe there would also be a bunch of blank pages that would require the reader to make learning comments and suggestions for the next students.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this TRIPLE III TIME message about the value of being a regular student of your job. Continuous improvement options should not be just the employer’s responsibility… it is the employees too.  Therefore, the more you know about your job… it’s past… current status and potential… the more you can contribute to its progressive future.