??3 Compelling Reasons Why Unlearning can Transform You as a Leader
Rachana Singh
On a mission to empower 1M+ Leaders and Collegians to lead their lives with Clarity ??and Courage? unlocking Peak Performance?? and Deep Fulfillment?? || Your Clarity and Courage Coach || Motivational Speaker || Author
Welcome to the '?Power Series,’ your monthly dose of leadership inspiration empowering you to grow as a mindful leader.
Power of Unlearning
This?week's Power series?explores the?'Power of Unlearning.’?If you were asked to list the skills you've learned to date, you'd likely have a series of accomplishments to recall. But what would be on your bucket list if you were asked to list the skills you've intentionally unlearned? Or do you have any at all? Unlearning, like listening, is rarely taught in childhood, making it seem unfamiliar, challenging, and even unnecessary.
As a business leader in today's ever-evolving world, where the future is shifting gears crazily, you're constantly expected to strategize and lead your team into the unknown. How can you maintain your steady hand and lead confidently when you're in the dark about what lies ahead?
There is only one way to do it: Embrace the cyclical process of learn, unlearn, and relearn to continually expand your potential. While you're likely already focused on learning about new market trends, deep diving into cutting edge technologies, or finding ways to keep your teams engaged, what's often overlooked in today's world is the crucial skill of unlearning. Unlearning is examining one’s beliefs about a particular topic, concept, idea, or thought and deconstructing it to the core to re-establish a new belief.
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As the futurist and philosopher Alvin Toffler stated, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Reinvent yourself by mastering the art of unlearning and stay future-ready! As a business leader, here are two questions to inspire your reflection:?????
?? What skills or beliefs have you intentionally unlearned to adapt to the changing business landscape?
?? How can you cultivate an unlearning culture within your team or organization to foster innovation and growth?
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Here are Three Compelling reasons Why Unlearning can Transform You as a Leader:
??1??Increased Clarity and Confidence
Think back to a decade when professionals kept their personal and professional lives in separate compartments. Remember how that used to be the norm? Fast forward to today, and the world has flipped on its head. With remote work becoming the new normal, our personal and professional lives are now intertwined like never before.
Maybe you've experienced this shift firsthand. Perhaps you've had to unlearn the old ways of keeping these spheres separate. Today, it's all about embracing this new reality where the lines between personal and professional life are blurred. As a leader, adapting to this change means taking on a more holistic approach that blends both aspects seamlessly. It's about acknowledging that work-life balance isn't just a buzzword anymore—it's a fundamental part of how we work and live.
Through your life journey, you would have crafted your unique lens to view the world, shaped by your beliefs, biases, and experiences. Yet, holding onto outdated perspectives can stunt your growth and impede your adaptability. While unlearning may feel uncomfortable, it's through reflecting on your assumptions and shedding perspectives that no longer serve you that you pave the way for new possibilities.
Challenging your entrenched beliefs demands humility and courage as you question the validity of your deep-seated beliefs and are pushed beyond your comfort zone. As you embrace this process, you gain clarity on what no longer serves you, empowering you with newfound confidence to stride boldly into the future.?
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??2??Propels You to Become a Progressive Leader
Change is the only constant. If you can synchronize inner change with the dynamic shifts around you, you will always find yourself in balance, flourish, and grow.
As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”
To unlearn effectively, consider the following steps:?
??3??Sparks Creativity and Ignites New Ideas
You need to start getting uncomfortable with being comfortable. You need to help your team see that the current ways of thinking and the mental models being followed by them and as an organization are outdated. As a leader it takes courage to question your own beliefs, to embrace the possibility of being wrong, and to admit ignorance. However, as a leader, showing vulnerability isn't a weakness; it's a strength. It builds trust within your team and encourages them to share their own unique perspectives, explore the unknown and be willing to try and fail.
Marshall Goldsmith’s book "What Got You Here Won't Get You There” fits the narrative perfectly. To prepare for the future, you need to let go off the past. To evolve, we must unlearn old mental models and make room for new ones. This is the key to igniting curiosity. When curiosity sparks, creativity and breakthroughs follow naturally.
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In the words of Bruce Lee, "Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality."
Let go of what you think you know to open yourself up to new ideas and possibilities. This journey of unlearning and relearning is where true transformation begins and you would experience exponential instead of incremental growth.
More Power of ‘Unlearning’ to you!??
Keep smiling and Keep shining…??
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Vice President at Altum Credo Home Finance Private Limited
7 个月Very helpful!
Subject matter expert Piramal swasthya
7 个月the importance of letting go of old beliefs to welcome new ideas, which brings clarity, forward-thinking leadership, and more creativity. It encourages always learning and adapting.
Absolutely ?? unlearning enhances leadership by fostering adaptability, creativity, and innovation. It involves questioning and letting go of outdated beliefs and practices to make room for new, more relevant approaches. This process not only propels leaders to become more progressive but also builds trust within their teams by showing vulnerability and openness to change. For example, in strategic partnerships, unlearning old negotiation strategies and embracing new, collaborative approaches can lead to more fruitful partnerships.
On a mission to empower 1M+ Leaders and Collegians to lead their lives with Clarity ??and Courage? unlocking Peak Performance?? and Deep Fulfillment?? || Your Clarity and Courage Coach || Motivational Speaker || Author
7 个月That's a powerful insight NIKHIL NARAIN, as we are progressing the realization has been that many newly learnt concepts need to be unlearnt indeed. Back to basics may be a key here.
Vice President at Goldman Sachs
7 个月Love this Rachana Singh.?? An old saying goes that if a little oil is good for a machine then it is not necessary that more oil will be great. Unlearning is a lost concept in today's world.. despite the fact that it was one of the basic foundations of our ancient civilization....??????