Both Individuals and companies are strangled by learning disability

Article Summary

John S Veitch
The Network Ambassador

We've been taught to rely on books and teachers and various kinds of experts to give us ready-made answers to our questions.
Schools also teach you to ask the sort of question that is easy to answer. What was the date? How do we classify trees in the forest?
Schools teach skills and techniques that are intended to make people more employable. Schools train people to be square pegs for square holes.
It's important to maintain a written record of what's interesting and occupying your thoughts. It's a simple note making process, but it's seldom done.
Most people have no training in statistical methods, so it's unlikely that most observers will bother to count and measure in a useful way.
Communities of practice support informal learning, which is the most effective way to help your experienced staff to learn.
Most firms devote too much money to formal training, and fail to achieve their objectives.
Even if we know what we should do, it may be socially painful. If others around you approve, or lead by example, it's much easier for you to follow.
The biggest barrier to learning anything is prior knowledge. Prior knowledge that "this topic isn't important" would be a prime candidate.
Prior knowledge that "I already know" is also important. The solution to a problem is often delayed because of "knowledge" that proved to be wrong.
Because some of what we know is "wrong", even when you know the "right answer", the "wrong answer" might keep popping up.
Unlearning is as important as learning for adults. If we can't unlearn some of our old habits, we can't change.

If you need the original article it's here.