Learning Mindset for Software Engineers

For software engineers, constant learning comes with the territory. Learning is at the center of what we do, whether it’s keeping up with new tech, or learning the architecture and codebase of a project you just inherited. Here are some thoughts on the learning mindset that can help keep you sharp.

There are two kind of learning mindset I have seen. One that treats the beginner’s mind as a source of frustration, looking to grow out of it as quickly as possible. The other treats the beginner’s mind as a source of liberation, looking forward to practice and the freedom to try new things. It’s the latter mindset that leads to real growth and eventually mastery. That’s the mindset you want to adopt.

The goal is not to go fast, but to go at the right pace, and in the right direction. Progress for each individual will vary and so it’s important to adopt the appropriate beginner’s mind, be patient and let time do its thing.

Software development is a practical skill. And the best way to improve a practical skill is by doing and repeating. That means you need to practice by constantly building new applications. It’s important to do this not just at work, but on the side too. There are a few ways to do this. One way is to get involved in an open source project you feel passionate about. Active open source projects have strong communities that make you feel like you are part of a large distributed team working on software together.

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