Am I past being able to learn more?

I often wonder about why I am not motivated to learn new things. I think about it but I just don’t have the time. Maybe there are different stages in our lives where we are motivated to learn and other times when it’s the last thing we would want to do. Personally I would love to have the ability to learn quickly and efficiently – but maybe I am past it?! 

There are a number of blocks that may prevent a person from learning – like scripts people have about themselves:

• I’m too old to learn something new.
• I don’t have time to learn.
• I’m not good at this.
• It’s all too hard.

These ideas and negative thinking patterns need to be challenged to give yourself a chance to implement a learning program that is going to work.

Ultimately, to become a skillful learner and enjoy the process, you need to tune into the excitement and challenge that comes with it.  The more you learn, the faster you will learn, and the more responsibility you will have taken in managing and directing your own learning process.

With the fast rate of change in jobs and technology, people not only have to learn more, but they have to learn faster and increasingly take more responsibility for their own learning.  Ultimately the people who will be most successful in future are those who are willing to become “expert learners”, and have the ability to learn quickly and efficiently. 

Different ways of learning

Basically, there are three different types of skills that can be learnt – technical, interpersonal, and conceptual skills.  Some people are naturally more capable of learning some of these than others.

Not everyone learns quickly and people like to learn things in different ways.  Some people like a formal explanation and instruction, whereas others like to learn by jumping straight into a task and doing it. 

People also tend to use one of their senses predominantly in their learning; for example, some people like to learn through visuals, by watching and seeing things.  Others like to learn primarily by sound or through hearing, to listen to what is happening and learn that way, yet others like to learn directly by touching and experiencing whatever it is they are wanting to learn.

The more flexible people become in the various ways in which they can learn, the better they will ultimately become at learning.

The five steps to learning

First, the specific gap in learning must be identified.  What is it that you are wanting to learn, or what is the gap in your knowledge or level of skill?

The second step is to identify an appropriate source for this learning.  Ask, “Where am I going to learn from?” or “What is going to be the source of my learning?”

Next, plan the logistics.  How and when am I going to get my learning? The actual learning begins by practising the skill and obtaining feedback from others on how you are going. It must be ensured that the learning becomes permanent.

Step 1 – Specify the gap

The most important part in learning something effectively has to do with a very basic adult learning principle, and that is, “What’s in it for me?”  If the task or skill to be learnt has no relevance for the person, then it is not likely that they will learn it effectively.

Sometimes a person is told what it is they have to learn due to a change in procedures or new technology.  In this situation, it is clear that they have to learn something. However, if it is not clear that any learning is necessary. Feedback is needed from other people, maybe team members, or a supervisor or manager to find out about where they might see gaps in performance.  This may not be the case with technical skills, but certainly with interpersonal areas and possibly conceptual areas.

It helps to try and look forward down the track to try and identify where training or learning may be required in future, for your current job or any jobs you may hold in future.  It is certainly a good idea to learn skills that will help with your career.

Step 2 – Identify sources of learning

We live in an exciting era, where many more resources are available for learning, and in particular, self-paced learning. This enables much more flexibility in the delivery of information and training, not just courses, but utilising different formats such as online learning, CDs, DVDs, videos and the internet. 

Another way of learning involves finding a mentor, someone who is more experienced in the skills you would like to develop. Colleagues, customers and suppliers can also be useful sources of learning.

Once the gaps in your knowledge have been identified, it is useful to sit down with a mentor, supervisor, or team leader and talk about what is available to you within the organisation, and what would be right for you individually.  There may be outside training courses that would also be suitable.

Step 3 – Work out the logistics

This step involves working out how and when the training or learning is going to be delivered.  Timing for using a self-paced DVD, or attending  course, or doing some online work.  Maybe it is a matter of finding a person you can go to and watch, who has the skills, or learn directly by doing a particular task. 

Learning by performing the task and then asking for feedback on how well you did it is probably one of the best ways to learn.  This also fits in well with “just-in-time” learning and training.

Knowing and understanding the process of learning enables a person to drive it themselves, and take more responsibility for their own learning.

Step 4 – Practice

Obviously, for any new skill to be integrated effectively into a person’s repertoire, it needs to be practised. If a new skill is not practised enough, the learning is likely to fade away fairly quickly.  At every opportunity you need to practise the skills in order for them to become second nature.

Importantly, you need to be open to making mistakes while learning a new task or skill.  Some people have unrealistic ideas about themselves when it comes to learning, that they must perform the task perfectly, straight away.  However, making mistakes is an excellent way to learn anything completely, and avoid making the same mistakes again.

Step 5 – Contracting

In order to reinforce a skill, it is useful to actually contract with an appropriate person and have them agree to provide you with the right opportunities to learn it.  It may also be helpful to keep a ‘learning log’ where you can keep a record of learning and landmarks to encourage permanence.

To see the video Learning to Learn… click here.

Eve Ash is a psychologist and co-author of Rewrite Your Life! And co-creator of the DVD Learning to Learn (from the TAKE AWAY TRAINING SERIES). Eve is founder of SEVEN DIMENSIONS www.7dimensions.com.au