Learning isn’t enough. You also need to unlearn.
It is no longer safe to follow the path.
The days of loyally serving a company (or two) for 40 years and obediently climbing the prescribed career ladder to retirement have long gone the way of the dinosaurs.
Danger! Salvation will not be found by remaining cloistered in your own profession or work discipline. Guru-thinking and being an expert does not guarantee you a safe haven.
When you become too engrossed in your own industry, you run the risk of becoming too influenced by it
Here is why. When you become too engrossed in your own industry, you run the risk of becoming too influenced by it. You shy away from trying new things for a bucket full of ‘valid’ reasons.
- It has already been done so there is no motivation to do different.
- The different or the unknown threatens your ‘expert’ status.
- You are afraid and take refuge in maintaining the status quo.
Before you know it you have become a radiant star in your own diminishing universe.
“In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
Eric Hoffer – social writer and philosopher.
We can all agree the value of acquiring knowledge and skills. However, simply amassing a vast collection of qualifications and certificates as evidence of learning and development is no longer enough in our post-industrial world.
Today, valuable learning and growth is so much more than an exercise in acquisition.
We need to be more discerning in our learning
It is the difference between a being a collector and a curator.
It is about letting go of old assumptions that are no longer relevant and divorcing yourself from processes that have passed their usefulness.
Now more than ever, we need to be more discerning in our learning and consciously handpick what to keep and what to discard.
Unlearn-Learn Simultaneously.
The skill of simultaneous unlearning and learning requires the mental dexterity to maintain a dual state of constant vulnerability and confidence. It calls for acquiring a mindful habit of consciously decluttering and curating.
Step 1: Unlearn.
Declutter your mind. You need to make room for new ideas, diverse perspectives and fresh thinking.
Consciously, let go of commonly accepted ways of thinking and actions that no longer serve a purpose. Be willing to change your world view and learn something new and different; adapt and/or adopt; and act!
It is not easy.
Have courage to challenge what you know. Don’t expect to find fresh ideas in your usual mental hangouts or work. Danger lies in staying in your comfort zone and barricading yourself in your own area of expertise or discipline.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Danger lies in staying in your comfort zone, barricading yourself in your area of expertise.” quote=”Danger lies in staying in your comfort zone, barricading yourself in your area of expertise.” theme=”style6″]You need to become self-disruptive and be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
It is not easy. But keep going.
Step 2: Learn.
As you tiptoe on the edge of your comfort zone, what style will you choose grasshopper?
Let go of commonly accepted ways of thinking and actions that no longer serve a purpose
Whatever method you adopt, actively seek out different opinions and try atypical approaches. Go cross-discipline adventuring. The world needs curious, creative explorers and mixed-discipline artists.
I found unexpected creative HR inspiration watching master glassblowers demonstrate their craft. Who would have thought?
For a quick blast of creativity on demand, I regularly pop down these 3 rabbit holes of podcasts, videos and snackable online education.
Try them out.
Step 3: Unlearn and Learn Simultaneously.
Now it is time to put steps 1 and 2 together. It is like learning to dance the salsa or learning to drive a manual transmission car – clutch, change gear, gas.
Stepping on toes and crunching gears are all part of the learning process.
Stepping on toes and crunching gears are all part of the learning process
Practice creates flow.
The key word here is ‘process’. It is not about passing or failing. Neither is it about getting it done or achieving perfection.
Simultaneously learning and unlearning is a skill backed with a specific mindset .
You will need to rewire your mindset . Stop pandering to fears of failure or the expectation of success.
This is not easy to do just like that. Why not try this instead?
Find solace in experimenting. Make learning your ultimate goal and how much you have grown your primary metric; not perfection.
When you have an experimental mindset , you create a safe space to try something new and different. When mistakes and missteps happen (and they will) you do not see your entire investment of time and energy as a failure but rather an iterative process of trial and error, unlearning and learning, and the broadening of your horizons in your own laboratory.
You will need grit and persistence to find ways to tap into those discoveries and let them percolate through your work over time.
Here is my daily practice to build up this skill. Give it a go yourself .
At the start the day, I put two sticky notes on my desk. One has “Unlearn” and the other has “Learn” written on it.
At the end of the day, I write down three things that I have unlearned and three things I have learned on each sticky note.
Don’t beat yourself up if you cannot manage to record three things in the beginning. With practice, you will get there.
Practice this every day. But don’t stop there.
“Don’t let your learning lead to knowledge. Let your learning lead to action.”
Jim Rohn – entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker.
Simultaneously learning and unlearning is a craft to be practiced and a skill to be honed.
You may feel uncomfortable at the thought of unlearning.
Create a safe space to try something new and different
You may even feel afraid to venture beyond the comfort of your discipline and area of expertise.
But remember this is not a race to be won or lost, a test to pass or fail.
Learning is your purpose and growth is your goal.
Start today. Practice daily and it will become your super skill that will help reignite your creativity.
Why bother?
Our world is filled with immense opportunities for the courageous and the creative.
But ultimately, the choice is yours to make.
http://openforideas.org/blog/2016/11/03/learning-isnt-enough-you-also-need-to-unlearn/https://i2.wp.com/openforideas.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/learn_and_unlearn.png?fit=1024%2C576https://i2.wp.com/openforideas.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/learn_and_unlearn.png?resize=150%2C150Personal Creativitycourage,fear,habit,learn,skill,unlearn
Nicole writes stories about her Creative HR journey and shares tips and discoveries in The HR Rabbit Hole blog.
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Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me? https://accounts.binance.com/zh-CN/register-person?ref=UM6SMJM3
I do totally agree with you. Well a one must unlearn the unhelpful stuff and forget the bad memories ! these are the things taking us back in life.
I think UN-learning is something that everyone needs to learn!!! It’s very easy to think there is a ceiling in your business because of industry norms, but it’s all in the mindset. Thank you so much for writing this!
ProActively UN-learning is the key to pushing beyond the boundaries of industry norms (whatever that means today), commonly accepted practises – all of which may have had their use and value back in the day; but are now a surefire way to keep you and your business stuck and stagnant. Thanks for dropping a comment on this …
Interesting and timely article. Those who are (shining stars in their universe) and do not want a challenge or are afraid that others will see their flaws outside their comfort zone would be very reluctant to try. However, it is necessary to expound one’s horizons! Learning is not enough..unlearn then learn. One may be surprised at hidden potential!
Yes, stepping beyond your comfort zone – especially the zone where you are the shining star – is tough and can be scary. When you step beyond your attachment (addiction) to prestige and experiment with self-directed ‘unlearning’ and ‘learning’ – it is amazing how your universe of skills and knowledge can expand. If status is your thing – what could be better than being a shining star in a bigger universe 🙂 Thanks for joining the conversation…
“kick-off meetings at the on start of projects in ALL industries should start by first reading this article……An article such as this one is strikingly relevant to professional individuals as much as it is to companies, organizational groups, students and more ….
This is a great idea to set the tone at the start of a project (or on joining a team) – to embed the idea of constant and simultaneous unlearning and learning mindset in a culture. Even better is to go beyond doing this personally and add in the sharing what you have unlearned and learned on a daily/weekly basis with your colleagues. Thanks for adding to the conversation
Great piece. Treat this like you would exercise. No one gets fit by doing a one of blast of effort. Setting time aside every day is what gets us fit. This should be no different. Exercise for the brain!
Yes! Creativity is a muscle – practice and regular use builds up strength and capacity to do more and be more creative. Thanks for adding to the conversation…