Learner

People with strong Learner talents constantly strive to learn and improve. The process of learning is as important to them as the knowledge they gain. Learners are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. They are excited by the thrill of learning new facts, beginning a new subject, and mastering an important skill. Learning builds their confidence. Having Learner as a dominant theme does not necessarily motivate someone to become a subject matter expert or strive for the respect that accompanies earning a professional or academic credential. The outcome of learning is less significant than “getting there.”

A few years ago – before I ever tested CliftonStrenths – I sat down with a workbook to help me better define my core values so that I could:

1. remove all the noise and focus on what matters most
2. ensure I was setting goals that aligned with my core values
3. live the life that I wanted, a life of meaning

As I worked through the workbook, answering questions and narrowing my choices to 20 then to 10 then to 5, one word stood out to me more than any other: curiosity.

Curiosity, by definition, is “a strong desire to know or learn something” or “a strange or unusual object or fact”. Yes, I thought. This is me.

What does Learner mean to me?

Curious. Inquisitive. Explorer. Open-Minded. Seeker. Passionate. Improver. Investigator. Variety. Intrigue. Energizing. Thrilling. Grow. Discoverer. Adventure. Evolving. Wonder.

As the practice of learning is something I prioritize within my core values, I don’t feel the day is done until I’ve learned something new. No matter how small or trivial, I’m happiest and at my best when I can say, “Oh! How interesting! I didn’t know that!” or ask, “Did you know…?” I’ll often find myself wandering down rabbit holes on Wikipedia or reading article after article about a topic that randomly catches my attention. It’s easy for me to become sidetracked by the thrill of the unknown. What gem might be hiding just around the corner? If I stop now, I’ll never know. And so I keep going. Because I feel that the answer that I seek will unlock additional avenues to explore. It’s also selfishly why I love my job at the library because I never know questions I might be asked. Every day is a new opportunity for growth.

While my Context definitely plays a part, I believe that having Learner so high is one reason why I’m so drawn to researching my family history. And it’s why I don’t mind duplicating the work of others. I love staring at a “brick wall” and then focusing my search on a different ancestor or medium and suddenly finding the clue that unlocks the mystery. It’s thrilling for me to uncover an overlooked fact or piece together the puzzle of an ancestor’s life. My Learner lets me relish the process of learning. There is rarely an end-goal in mind. Only the next record to find and the next clue to search. Knowing that there are questions I will never find an answer to does not discourage me. Rather, it challenges me to continue the search because perhaps the answer will one day appear. I’ll never know unless I continue.

What Learner is not.

Perhaps my biggest internal struggle is that I want to share what I know and find interesting with others without sounding like a complete know-it-all. I adore museums as not only a beautifully curated room (hello Input) but as a chance to learn. It’s why I love Washington D.C. so much. All the museums for FREE! Yet the last time I visited, my friend and I waited in line to tour the National Archives. As we wandered the various exhibit rooms, I could overhear a trio that was following after us. One of their group commented a fact or two on every display and I had to distance myself from them because it grated my nerves. One of my biggest pet peeves is wandering around the exhibits and hearing people make comments about every. little. thing. For me, it’s definitely a side-effect of having Learner. I desire to learn for myself, rather than have someone share the answer with me. It takes the fun out of learning to just be given the answer. And, if you share the answer, how will I learn?

Additionally, I don’t believe that Learner means that I have all the answers, or that I know how to find all the answers. In that regard, it’s very similar to my Strategic. Having Learner allows me to remain open-minded to all possibilities. I feel that all voices should be at the table because I feel that sharing our individual perspectives is the best way to learn. I want to feel my ideas are listened to and considered, and when I feel that isn’t the case, I will stop offering. This is why I value the art of listening: both feeling that I am listened to as well as ensuring that I am listening to others.

How can I use my Learner to help myself?

First and foremost, I believe my Learner can be best used to help me by integrating and internalizing my goals. I feel this ties back to my core values. By focusing on the things that I value and eliminating those that I do not, I can better focus my Learner on the things that I feel are most important to me. Rather than slip down the rabbit hole of any general topic, I can focus instead on those that are related to my research, goals, and values.

Additionally, I feel I can learn to embrace and even drive change. This is something I really struggle with! While I used to believe that I could roll with the punches, I learned a few summers ago that I actually do not process change well. At all. At that time, so many things occurred all at once and I felt like my center fractured. I struggled with anxiety and depression, and I was focused on nostalgia and longed to return to what I had, rather than staying present and focused on the here and now. It took some time for me to bounce back, but with help, I managed to overcome. It is still a daily struggle, those thoughts and doubts are always there, but thanks to a wonderful therapist, I now have the tools to fight back and conquer my fears.

The unknown is a scary place. But change is good – necessary even – for our growth. Only when we’re placed in unique and unknown situations can we begin to understand who we are and what drives us. Change is challenging and another way that we learn. Leaning on my other strengths in times of change, specifically my Strategic and Connectedness helps me to feel better prepared for what may come my way as well as feel secure in the knowledge that I believe everything happens for a reason, no matter how unsettling they may seem.

How can I use Learner to help others?

One of my favorite statements from CliftonStrengths regarding Learner is this:

You love to learn, and you intuitively know how you learn best. Your natural ability to pick up and absorb information quickly and to challenge yourself to continually learn more keeps you on the cutting edge.

Just as with my Intellection, I feel I can use my Learner to help and encourage learning in others. By remaining enthusiastic in my learning and being accepting of change, I can encourage that in others.

And, because those with high Learner intuitively know how they learn best, Learners can also use that self-knowledge to apply to others. This circles back to my value of the art of listening. With very little effort, I can sit back, observe and assess how those around me learn best. By relying once more on my Strategic and Connectedness, I can build patterns and assist in suggesting learning plans. Perhaps that is a discussion around an issue. Perhaps that is written instructions. Or a hands-on approach. By using that knowledge, I can share what I see and help others become better learners.

What are Learner blindspots?

My biggest Learner blindspot has been my easily distracted ways. It’s so easy for me to stumble deep into the woods of mystery only to look up and see an hour or two has quickly passed. Because I cherish the process of learning rather than the end result, I need to remain mindful of my time invested, especially when contributing to projects with set deadlines. To do this, I can set strict time limits on myself that I can dedicate to research. I know that I will always want to know more. Just as with my writing, there will come a time when I will need to say, enough is enough. I have the information that I need at this moment, for this particular project.

Because those with Learner place high values on learning, I also need to be aware that my love of learning, or my way of learning, is not for everyone. I need to stay true to my Learner tendencies to remain open-minded and respectful of others’. This is something I’m guilty of doing! Because I like to share what I find with those closest to me, I oftentimes plunge full steam ahead without really paying attention to whether or not my words hold any interest with the individual. While oversharing can be viewed as a quirky habit, I can be more intentional about what I share and with whom I share it.

What are some ways I can develop my Learner?

Some of the action plans for Learner that resonant with me are:

Use your passion for learning to add value to your own and others’ lives.
Be a catalyst for change. New rules, skills or circumstances might intimidate others. Your willingness to absorb new and different factors can calm their fears.
Respect your desire to learn. Take advantage of educational opportunities in your community or at work. Discipline yourself to sign up for at least one new course or class each year.
Refine how you learn. If you learn best by teaching, seek out opportunities to instruct others. If you learn best through reflection, carve out this quiet time.

I hope this post has helped you as it has me! Each time I dig a little deeper into each of my top themes, I find a new love and appreciation for each. And while this post isn’t perhaps history or family-oriented, it is about me which is about both those things. Without my Learner, I don’t believe I’d be as curious as I am about my past and the people who brought me into the world. These strengths and their order is unique to me and I’m so grateful for what they offer. Because while I may be first and foremost fascinated by history and the lives of my ancestors, I believe it is my Learner that drives me to discover everything I can about them. And it allows me to breathe life once more into their past.