Learning, Unlearning, and Improving are Habits We Cherish

Some people do not like facing challenges. But for people at Plover Bay, challenges are opportunities. Opportunities to learn new things, and abandon old habits that may be preventing improvement. Learning, unlearning, and improving are lessons frequently experienced by our Technical Consultants.

The Technical Consultants are at the forefront of providing data-driven solutions through newly learned skills. Even though handling technical inquiries is their specialty, they harness further knowledge through dedicated collaboration with our partners. The ones that dare to take these steps and unlearn old habits if need be. They are expected to abandon their preconceived market sentiments and formulate new ways to leverage market feedback unique to Plover Bay’s business performance.

The wisest person understands that to truly master a new skill, unlearning what we already know is just as important as learning what we don’t. This is the best way to improve. But how do we know what things we need to unlearn? We asked our Technical Consultants to share some wisdom on this process.

Have you developed any new skills since working with us? Since working here, I have polished my interpersonal skills when communicating with different personnel in my day-to-day tasks. I learned new approaches when communicating with others and adopted different techniques to help explain my thoughts. This involves adopting a multidimensional thought process where not only do we share our knowledge, but go the extra mile and take a proactive approach. We make the effort to ensure we are one step ahead of anything thrown at us.

This has been particularly important when interacting with our partners, as before, I was not expected to communicate with our partners the way that we do here. I had to adjust my tone of voice and my expectations. Partners are knowledgeable in the industry, so recognizing the things they already know as opposed to the things they may not know can go a long way. You need to put yourself into the shoes of the partners and ask yourself what they would need to know in a given situation.

Were there any things that had to be unlearnt for this skill? In my previous experiences, I was expected to treat partners as though they were customers and carry the same tone when handling enquiries. This can be problematic, as partners view this level of service as patronizing. They carry just as much professionalism as we do, so they expect the relationship to be treated as it is, a partnership.

This is not the case at all at Plover Bay. Here, it feels as though our partners are our colleagues or even an extension of the company itself! They provide just as much insight and ideas as we do in our internal team meetings. They are an integral part of the business, and it is their passion that keeps Plover Bay alive, just as much as it is ours. Reeling back from my original tone was odd, but since working here, I am in a more comfortable position when speaking with partners. The relationship feels more humble, and it feels like a close-knit team.

Was unlearning your old habits an important step to help master this skill? Yes, unlearning that imaginary hierarchy in my mind was necessary. Treating our partners as an extension of ourselves is important, as our partners are extremely valuable assets to the company. Not only are they knowledgeable in different markets, but they know how to leverage that knowledge and show how our products fit into the lives of the end-users. They are the ones who truly understand the habits and emotions of the end-users, and are able to competently recommend our products to suit their needs. These insights can help us tailor our products to the requirements of our customers.

Any advice on other habits people should unlearn in the industry? Well, one thing I would recommend unlearning is overthinking. I have found that sometimes, the best approach to a challenge is to use your instinct and go with what you feel is best. Therefore, my advice would be not to overthink things when presented with a challenge. If you are unsure about something, research it and clarify your understanding. Don’t be afraid to ask your peers for help. Be confident with yourself, and trust in your employer, as they have hired you for a reason.