Learn any subject faster and better - Economical learning techniques 1

Look around. Jobs and entire careers are appearing and disappearing out of thin air. Learning is not an option in today's fast-paced world. And accelerated learning is a must for the time-starved modern-day professional. The world of work has changed in crucial ways forcing critical adjustments if we are to survive and thrive as leaders and professionals.There has never been more of a demand on you as a professional to acquire new skills and update (or replace) old established ones. There has never been more rapid obsolescence of skills (and people) in the history of our civilizations.

However, likewise, there has never been more and easy access to information. Never has there been more rewards for being a highly skilled worker- what is described as a knowledge worker. Put these together and you can see that the same circumstances that spell extinction for the professional who refuses to adopt a continuous learning approach to work (and life) also spell success and dominance to the professional who does.

To increase your earning, you must increase your learning - Brian Tracy

Preaching to the choir - because the choir needs help

Now if you are reading this you probably belong to the group of continuous learners. Congratulations. However, perhaps you feel overwhelmed with the volume of information you are trying to learn. Maybe you are strapped for time and energy to study.

Maybe you even find time to study but have difficulty recollecting what you have studied when you need it.In this series, I share with you a set of techniques that will multiply the effectiveness of your learning efforts saving you your two most precious assets – time and energy.

By using this you can multiply your learning effectiveness with less time and effort than you may be currently spending. Let us begin.

The principle of Economical Learning

The dictionary defines the word economical as “giving good value or service in relation to the amount of money, time, or effort spent”. Good definition no doubt, but my favourite definition states plainly that economical means “using no more than is necessary”.

When you use more than is necessary, you end up with waste and waste is costly.Economical learning is a phrase I coined for the method of studying with minimal waste of time and energy as a result of a clear intention and result-oriented engagement with information. When you adopt this approach to learning, you will easily double your effectiveness as much by what you do as by what you don’t waste your time doing.

The method is broken down into three distinct stages. In this article, we will look into the first and most important stage.

First Step of Economical Learning – The reverse epiphany

Before you ever pick up a book or look at a course, you must experience the reverse epiphany. This step is just as important (more so) as the act of reading or studying because it sets the stage for everything else that follows.

This is the stage where you come to a realization that you have a knowledge or skill gap. The old saying goes – you don’t know what you don’t know.

While that is mostly true, by the end of this stage you will at least know that you need to know – and better still, you will know what you need to know.

The potholes in your path

The pothole is a metaphor I use to describe the gaps of knowledge and skill that riddle the path to your success in personal and professional life much like potholes on a poorly-maintained road.

Some of these knowledge gaps are so large they are more like craters such as one which you would experience when trying to make a huge career change or shift into a new field or role.

Others you could probably drive right over at moderate speed with nothing but a little discomfort as you pass such as putting together a piece of furniture from IKEA. Frustrating, I know but you probably don’t need to take time off work to enroll in a weekend boot camp to assemble your new curiously-named floating shelf.

Economical learning means that you give no more (or less) attention and energy to a pothole than is necessary to successfully pass it with no damage to your vehicle and minimal impact on your speed in reaching your destination.

Start with duh

In his best-selling book, Start with Why, Simon Sinek describes the importance for leaders in organizations to clarify and communicate their motivation for doing business. This, he says, will help them better connect with their customers and drive their business forward.

Here I ask you not to start with why, but to start with duh. What is your duh? Your duh is important because it can greatly undermine your why if it is not addressed. If you do not recognize that you lack knowledge or skill, you may incessantly and ineffectually hurl large boulders of time and energy at a problem that could be solved with the acquisition and application of a relatively small key skill.

Why will get you going, but duh will keep you moving.

Clear as mud

Now while most people will be able to identify that there is a gap in their learning or abilities, most people are not clear about what this gap is. This is why I call this the reverse epiphany.

An epiphany is a sudden realization of a clear solution. A reverse epiphany is a sudden realization of a lack of knowledge. But like an epiphany, it also needs to be absolutely clear.

Realizing that you don’t know and gaining clarity on what you don’t know is a crucial step to closing the knowledge or skill gap.In the second post in this series, we will discuss the next step in economical learning.Till then, be your best. And do your best.