The best EAs are the ones who constantly upskill themselves and strive to get better at what they do. Key to this is being able to learn new things fast. Although it might seem straightforward - we all spent many years in school, after all - learning is a skill you can develop.

So, how do you get better at learning?

Cultivate your desire to learn

The first step is developing a positive attitude to learning. One of the downsides to school is that the environment can make it a chore and sour people towards the practice entirely. But key to learning in adult life is taking a healthy attitude towards it, and getting to a place where you enjoy learning new things because you want to, not because you're forced to. 

There's no doubt that learning is hard - that's why it's infinitely easier when you're genuinely motivated to put in the work.

Take the time to reflect

Think back to your University or high school days - did you ever just read through textbooks or papers and simply highlight things? Rarely is that enough. Part of getting something to stick in your brain is processing it in the right way. A good method for this is summarising what you've read - not copying it word for word but writing it out as if you were explaining it to a classmate.

Part of this process is asking yourself if you actually understand the the concept, or have you just memorised the sentences in the book. If you truly understand, paraphrasing won't be a problem, but if you've only memorised certain passages, you're going to struggle.

Split the information into chunks

When there's a lot of material to go over and digest, it can be a daunting prospect to even get started. Chunking is a great way to manage your learning in a way that doesn't become overwhelming. Split the topics into individual concepts - chunks - that you can learn and understand in a sequential order. This ensures you see the big picture because you've understood the pieces from which it's constructed.  

Learning to learn is key for EAs that want to become the best assistant they can be. When you know how, your ability to pick up new skills will be greatly enhanced.