Significance of learn-unlearn-relearn methodology to stay ahead.
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
Let’s understand the literal meaning of the terms from the dictionary – learn, unlearn, and relearn.
Learn: To gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught.
Unlearn: To discard (something learned, especially false or outdated information) from one’s memory.
Relearn: To learn (something) again.
The world we are living in is fast and dynamic, where change remains the only constant. So, to change, what is important is the attitude to learn. The size of the human brain is 400 cubic centimetres (varies between 350 to 450). In that capacity, the maximum possible information one can cram is defined by the Bousso bound. Surprisingly, it ends up calculating roughly 10^70 bits of information. I am leaving it for you to decide whether is too much or too little or just fair enough.
In a way, rather than piling up information, we must be prepared to do away with (unlearn) old methods and adopt (relearn) new ones to boost our career growth. Lao Tzu explained it well through his quote – to attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.
Susan Dumas:
#1 Willingness is the key to progress. So, foster a sense of willingness.
#2 Doing away with self-limiting beliefs and pursuing the unfamiliar.
#3 Human psychology has a lot to do with learning. So, relocating (to bring up new surroundings) or moving away from the location helps.
#4 Surrounded by like-minded people hampers unlearning. So, learn from your opposite i.e. professionals from different backgrounds.
#5 We learned a lot in our early days. It was simply because of our curious mind. So, fostering curiosity is important.
#6 Setting of SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) goals is of utmost importance. It helps to provide motivation and self-reliance.
#7 Working on it solo is really difficult. So, continuous support of colleagues plays a vital role in achieving it.
To conclude, we must understand and embrace continuous learning. It will not only help us in moving forward but also bring in a spectrum of personal cum professional change.