Skills Sprint: How to Lead Your Own Learning with Adaptability episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 22, 2026 · 12 MIN

Skills Sprint: How to Lead Your Own Learning with Adaptability

from Squiggly Careers · host The Squiggly Career

When it comes to learning at work, it’s easy to wait for permission - from managers, organisations, or “the right moment.” In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how to lead your own learning, even when time, money, or support feel limited. This is Day 4 of the Learn Like A Lobster skill sprint, and the focus is on adaptability — the skill that helps you keep learning when things don’t go to plan. Helen and Sarah explain why relying on perfect conditions can stall your development, and how adapting your approach helps you stay resilient and relevant at work. 🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F 🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster: 🇺🇸PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn 🇬🇧 Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) Lobsters, old shells, and self-sustaining growth (01:04) Waiting for permission stalls learning (02:01) Why adaptability matters at work (03:23) Flexibility vs adaptability: the toolbox analogy (05:08) Using AI to adapt in advance (06:48) Live example: Learning goals & scenario planning (09:48) Inspiration & 24hr action 🎯 What You’ll Learn The difference between being flexible and being adaptable How to anticipate barriers and adapt your learning approach How AI can help you plan for obstacles and take action now AI Prompt: Act as a squiggly career coach. My role is: [your role]. I work in: [describe your organisation and context]. My learning goal for the next 3 months is: [what you want to learn]. Identify realistic barriers that might get in the way of this learning. For each barrier, suggest adaptive responses I could use to keep learning anyway. Present the output in a simple table. Learn Like a Lobster Profiler – https://www.learnlikealobsterprofiler.com/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected] More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to learning at work, it’s easy to wait for permission - from managers, organisations, or “the right moment.” In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how to lead your own learning, even when time, money, or support feel limited. This is Day 4 of the Learn Like A Lobster skill sprint, and the focus is on adaptability — the skill that helps you keep learning when things don’t go to plan. Helen and Sarah explain why relying on perfect conditions can stall your development, and how adapting your approach helps you stay resilient and relevant at work. 🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F 🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster: 🇺🇸PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn 🇬🇧 Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) Lobsters, old shells, and self-sustaining growth (01:04) Waiting for permission stalls learning (02:01) Why adaptability matters at work (03:23) Flexibility vs adaptability: the toolbox analogy (05:08) Using AI to adapt in advance (06:48) Live example: Learning goals & scenario planning (09:48) Inspiration & 24hr action 🎯 What You’ll Learn The difference between being flexible and being adaptable How to anticipate barriers and adapt your learning approach How AI can help you plan for obstacles and take action now AI Prompt: Act as a squiggly career coach. My role is: [your role]. I work in: [describe your organisation and context]. My learning goal for the next 3 months is: [what you want to learn]. Identify realistic barriers that might get in the way of this learning. For each barrier, suggest adaptive responses I could use to keep learning anyway. Present the output in a simple table. Learn Like a Lobster Profiler – https://www.learnlikealobsterprofiler.com/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected] More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This episode is 12 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 22, 2026.

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When it comes to learning at work, it’s easy to wait for permission - from managers, organisations, or “the right moment.” In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how to lead your own learning, even when time, money, or support feel limited. This...

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