PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Staying Ahead : Learning , Un-learning And Re-learning
By Geoffrey Sirumba
“
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write , but those who cannot learn , unlearn and relearn .” - Alvin Toffler .
Learning is an innate part of the human experience , and it ’ s something we seek at all stages of life . Today , as the fortunate inhabitants of the knowledge economy , we have the best tools and resources at our disposal . Whether its search engines or social media , access as well as exposure to information and opportunities has never been easier . Indeed , it would be a wasted chance if we fail to use this opportunity to learn to grow in our pursuit of knowledge .
Every organization takes a leap of faith when employing people to implement their business objectives . As an employee “ Congratulations ” now all your work is done and you can sit back , relax , and let your knowledge and expertise meet your KPIs . Right ?
Wrong . We need to constantly update our knowledge . After all , our knowledge is only as good as its latest experience , which means you need consistent updates to keep your brain “ fresh ” and “ relevant ”. People who find opportunities in a changing environment are those who are actively looking for them . The choice is simple : act or be acted upon . Since change is the only constant you can truly rely upon , learning to navigate and adapt to it is not just important to our survival , we need to thrive in the bigger game of life .
Unlearning
" Empty your cup so that it may be filled ; become devoid to gain totality .” - Bruce Lee .
We have forever focused on the importance of learning . What we ’ ve failed to master is the power to unlearn - our ability to take an honest look at our mental map and make the conscious decision to work outside of it .
If we grew up around the same time ( Maziwa Ya Nyayo generation ), I am sure we could all sing this chorus before we even knew how to spell our names . “ This is Mr and Mrs . Kamau and their children , the man is Mr Kamau , the woman is Mrs Kamau ” almost 30 years later I still know the lyrics word for word .
There are different ways you might unlearn something in light of new information . The first is a straightforward refutation of the old idea . Before colonization , didn ’ t
We have forever focused on the importance of learning . What we ’ ve failed to master is the power to unlearn - our ability to take an honest look at our mental map and make the conscious decision to work outside of it . we have names for Lake Victoria or Mt Kenya ? I am sure we had but do we use them ?
The first challenge of unlearning is that when something contradicts your current understanding , you are likely to dismiss it . The ideas , philosophies , and truths that guide our lives may be convenient approximations of reality . The real challenge presents itself when the old ways of doing things that once yielded success stop working ( or stop working as well as they once did ).
How to Unlearn
So , how do you go about unlearning the things you think you know ? This isn ’ t a trivial task . Simply throwing your hands up and admitting you know nothing maybe a zen kind of solution , but it doesn ' t offer a way forward to true knowledge . It simply admits ignorance of any theory for explaining the terrain , rather than trying to come up with more useful ones .
One way to begin unlearning is to seek additive knowledge in familiar areas and then use that new knowledge to start pulling up and modifying old knowledge . Another approach is to seek other people ’ s experiences in the workplace . The more diverse their experiences are from yours , the more likely they are situated in a different position in the space of life possibilities and how their lives differ from your expectations can itself give you information about your thinking .
A third approach to unlearning is to be
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