Tag Archives: learning

In the name of learning- can I help you?

Posted on November 30, 2009 by in Blog

I’m getting into the flow of writing a regular newsletter (thanks to all for the great feedback from the last one). My ritual, ahead of writing, is to hop on Twitter to check out the people I like and find out what’s going on in their worlds.

In the last half hour I’ve:
√ read about the rise of entrepreneurship in the US

√ heard from a professional adventurer about his latest plan

√ read Ken Blanchard’s (of One Minute Manager fame) thoughts of how he lifts himself from a pity party into thanks.

I ask myself is this learning, or am I just bombarding myself with information to file somewhere in the complex machine we call the brain? (Incidentally fascinating article about neuroscience from Harvard Business Review here.)

The jury is still out but it’s definitely fun.

I do know though that incidental learning about podcasts and interviewing (from my First Step community membership with Gihan Perera) has led to some new product development for Vivat.

Staying true to our passion of helping people use what they learn, I’ve been creating some podcasts for my clients both reviewing and refreshing content as well as integrating reflection techniques and questions to support the transfer of learning with the content. For one of my clients I’m launching a series of interviews with their top performers, in which they talk about their learning strategies and their advice for best results. My client will use this in house to support all sales team members.

I’d be happy to help you create something similar for your teams.

If you feel like having a chat about what new ideas could support your learning initiatives give me a call – very happy to brainstorm…. and having read a fascinating article about effective brainstorming today I am sure we’ll have fun in the process!

Keep loving your learning

If all else fails, do it yourself. Emergency Turning Learning into Action strategies.

Posted on September 10, 2009 by in Blog

I was at a great half day seminar recently – inspiring information and great actions to take away.

The day started really well when I noticed on the agenda 30 minute small group discussions had been scheduled for recall, take out value and how to implement.

The speaker finished. The recall session began and we went around the table with each of us confirming what we had learnt (repeat ‘learnt’, not what we were going to do). And then the co-ordinater said “And you are going to take action aren’t you?”. To which we all dutifully nodded and mumbled agreement and then the session wrapped up early! The speaker finished. The recall session began and we went around the table with each of us confirming what we had learnt (repeat ‘learnt’, not what we were going to do). And then the co-ordinater said “And you are going to take action aren’t you?”. To which we all dutifully nodded and mumbled agreement and then the session wrapped up early!

So what happened…

The first step in emergency DIY learning transfer is don’t go back to your desk.

Stop and reflect on the learning before you do anything else.

How frustrating! All the elements were there – the intention, the time

for follow through and the great content – but the execution, the transfer of learning was simply not up to scratch. No Turning Learning into Action (TLA) at all.

I had really enjoyed the day. So rather than sulk about how disappointing the TLA section was, I decided to follow my own advice and put the emergency “WWW DIY TLA” plan into action.

Step 1: The first step in emergency DIY learning transfer is don’t go back to your desk. Instead, go to a coffee shop, the park, the boardroom (if you are already in the office), anywhere but your desk, your computer and your to-do list. Stop and reflect on the learning before you do anything else.

Step 2: Use the 3 Ws (what, where and when) to reflect on the learning. Make a clear decision about what you are going to do to implement the learning and then decide when and where you are going to do it.

Here are some examples of why this part of the process is so important. In their book The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz describe a study in which a group of women agreed to do a breast self-exam during a period of 30 days. 100% of those who said where and when they were going to do it completed the exam. Only 53% of the others did.

In another study, drug addicts in withdrawal (can you find a more stressed-out population?) agreed to write an essay before 5 p.m. on a certain day. 80% of those who said when and where they would write the essay completed it. None of the others did.

Give yourself the best chance of follow-through by deciding what, when and where you will implement the learning, before going back to your desk. The three Ws are the best DIY recipe there is.

The Evolution of Learning

Posted on May 21, 2009 by in Blog

Where is learning going?
I saw recently that a new search engine is being launched which can answer questions more intelligently than Google.
It will eventually start to impact the way we get information from the web. Very interesting I thought. To see the full article from the Sydney Morning Herald go to http://tiny.cc/huosE
It made me start thinking about the evolution of learning.
Everywhere I look most learning is focused on content – what to do, how to do, when to do, top tips, recommendations, best practice, how top performers do it etc. But all this is just information. As the world progresses all of this is being increasingly available at the touch of a button or from the recommendation of a friend via a social network. It’s not the real evolution of learning.
For me the real evolution of learning is that people will get it’s not about the content or knowledge. Content and knowledge is so readily available now.
The real evolution of learning will be when people really understand it’s about the transfer of learning into action.
What you personally know is now irrelevant. What you do with what you know makes the difference.
I’d love your thoughts.