Sharpening the Saw Cuts Both Ways in Business and in Work

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

 

I love to teach what I know, whether it’s Human Resources, Recruiting, LinkedIn, Strategic Planning or Career Planning.  I do experience even more joy in learning something new, whether I’m in my role as a teacher, or as a happy sponge in my role of an engaged student.

In order to keep my Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from The Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) current, like practitioners in other professions, I must attend 60 credit hours of training every 3 years.  HRCI permits recertification credit for both learning and instruction, among other activities.

Earlier in my career, the SPHR recertification requirement forced me to practice Stephen Covey’s wisdom of keeping my saw sharp.  If not for that requirement, I would not have made that learning time a priority in my always too-busy work schedule.

Today, I benefit from the sharpening of both sides of the saw no matter how busy my work schedule.  Within the last month, I’ve attended:

  • A great discussion on Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, thanks to my monthly business book club;
  • Two sales training courses;
  • A facilitated goal-setting brainstorming session;
  • A Unitarian Universalist lay leadership training;
  • My own workshop (as instructor / student) on personal strategic planning for a great group of college students about to embark on their brilliant careers and businesses.

Whether I was officially in the role of student or teacher, there were takeaway jewels from each experience.  I was comfortable in both roles, and at times wore both the student and the teacher hats at the same time, particularly as the brilliant college students more than taught back the gift of building your own strategic plan, as I sat in the audience and basked in the glow of their energy.  That sharpening of the saw cut both ways, indeed.