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One approach is to apply a time-utility analysis (similar in form to a cost-benefit) to the subjects
you’re interested in learning. “Time” is time to learn. It’s effectively the opportunity cost to you of
achieving competence. “Utility” is how much you’re likely to use the desired skill. For example,
today’s manager spends a lot of time emailing, gathering data, running meetings, and making
spreadsheets, so the utility for improving at these activities is especially high.
Combine time and utility, and you get a simple 2×2 matrix with four quadrants:
As
you’d expect, there’s some correlation (r=0.3), so the more useful items take longer to learn in
general. But the scattered effect gives rise to some useful, tangible pointers for prioritizing what to
learn.
You’ll find the quickest wins in the bottom-right quadrant, which we’ve labeled “Learn it right
away.” In here we have time-saving shortcuts that can be applied frequently, like Ctrl-Y (redo) and
F2 (edit cell) and a nice combination formula that cleanses your spreadsheet of errors (IF(ISERROR)).
The quadrant “Schedule a block of time for learning it” hosts the highly useful but more complex
features, such as conditional formatting and pivot tables — these were deemed the two most useful
on the entire list.
Bottom-left is those less useful but quick-to-learn items like Ctrl-5 (strikethrough) and Show
Formulas (Ctrl¬).
Finally, in the top-left quadrant are the theoretically least appealing items, such as Get External Data
and Text to Columns.
YOU AND YOUR TEAM SERIES But for all of these, you, the individual learner,
Learning will impose your own opinions and experience on
an analysis like this: “Actually, I already know
Ctrl-Y, and I’ll never need to get external data.”
And that helps filter out even more items, leaving
you with an even more manageable list.
You can use this approach just for yourself, or across a team, department, even your entire company.
Since you probably don’t have much time to learn, learn to make the most of what you have.
Marc Zao-Sanders is CEO and co-founder of ltered.com, an edtech company that uses AI to lift productivity
through skills and learning. Find Marc on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/marczs.
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