How to understand

How to understand

Proper understanding isn't about gathering information but filtering, processing, and adapting it. Mastering this requires a combination of three key pillars: reading, teaching, and change. These elements form a robust framework that helps you absorb and transform knowledge into wisdom.

1. Reading: The Foundation of Understanding

Reading has long been the cornerstone of learning. It's not about flipping through pages or skimming articles—it's about immersing yourself in the material, questioning assumptions, and seeking more profound insights.

When you read, approach the text with a critical eye. What is the author trying to say? What perspectives are they leaving out? Challenge yourself to go beyond surface-level understanding by connecting what you read with your experiences, other works, or opposing viewpoints. Reading is the first step, but your thinking after that counts.

2. Teaching: Solidifying Knowledge Through Sharing

Teaching others is one of the most potent ways to solidify your understanding. Whether explaining a concept to a colleague, sharing insights with a friend, or writing about what you've learned, teaching helps you organize your thoughts and test your knowledge.

When you teach, you're forced to simplify complex ideas and communicate them in ways others can grasp. This process enhances your understanding and uncovers gaps in your knowledge that you might have missed. In many ways, teaching is as much a learning tool as it is a way to help others.

3. Change: The Key to Understanding is Trying to Change It

If you want to understand something, you should try to change it. This principle, often seen in the scientific method, applies broadly to all areas of learning. When you actively work to alter a process, system, or even your thinking, you uncover its deeper mechanics.

By attempting to change something, you're forced to grapple with how it functions, its weaknesses, and where improvements can be made. This trial-and-error process reveals nuances that passive learning might miss. Whether tweaking a workflow, adjusting a mindset, or experimenting with a new method, change is a hands-on way of learning that brings theory into practice.

Putting It All Together

Proper understanding doesn't come from just reading or memorizing facts. You must actively engage with knowledge by reading critically, teaching to reinforce ideas, and trying to change things to see how they work. These three pillars—reading, teaching, and changing—create a robust framework for turning information into wisdom.

Understanding is about more than just knowing. It's about learning, sharing, and experimenting, so you're constantly growing and adapting. To know something, don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and see how it reacts when you try to change it.

Susanna Nevalainen , FCJI

| CX / EX | Senior Trainer | NLP trainer | NOBCO/ EMCC FoundationCoach | mBIT |

4 个月

Thanks for sharing Rick Mans, valuable insights again!

Thank you for sharing! I recently heard Huberman speak on effective studying, and in addition to the excellent points you mention I was amazed at the efficacy of testing, as in testing your own knowledge after only reading something once in comparison to consuming the material multiple times. Also interesting: the group that studied material multiple times was overconfident on their results on the final test compared to the under confident group that studied once and tested themselves multiple times https://share.snipd.com/episode/fc51b213-6f9b-49ac-bcde-108d0943acfd

John Parkinson

Optimising Global Teams and Leaders with Proven Strategies and Programs - personal and through a proud association with Korn Ferry

4 个月

Rick, I wish more folks could appreciate this wisdom and not just read the article or book on "how to", but actually adapt, apply and experiment to mastery is such an important message. Research-based 70/20/10 learning model supports this also.

Marshall Kirkpatrick

Transform data into strategic advantage in your sustainability work.

4 个月

I appreciate this! Thanks!

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Rick Mans的更多文章

  • Be Curious, Not Competitive

    Be Curious, Not Competitive

    When you position yourself as superior or inferior to someone, an invisible wall emerges—a barrier built of ego…

    8 条评论
  • The Hidden Cost of Hiding Mistakes

    The Hidden Cost of Hiding Mistakes

    Mistakes are part of the human experience, but how we deal with them shapes our growth and integrity. Here's why…

  • You Don’t Need More Time, You Need Space

    You Don’t Need More Time, You Need Space

    You’ve been there. Staring at the clock, scrambling to find just a few more minutes to solve a problem.

    14 条评论
  • Haste Slowly

    Haste Slowly

    Deadlines loom, tasks pile up, and everybody around you seems to demand speed. Better hurry up! But here's the paradox:…

    6 条评论
  • A Formula for Power

    A Formula for Power

    The power of value combined with recognition is one of leadership's most effective yet underutilized aspects. When…

  • Risk = Responsibility ? Authority

    Risk = Responsibility ? Authority

    You're at risk when you're tasked with reaching a goal without the authority to control what you need to succeed…

    3 条评论
  • The 2 Most Important and Simple Money Questions

    The 2 Most Important and Simple Money Questions

    Money often is the elephant in the room. These are my favourite two questions to cut through the noise and offer…

    1 条评论
  • Black Box Thinking

    Black Box Thinking

    "Experts" are everywhere. They claim to have cracked the code, offering up formulas for how to succeed based on hours…

    2 条评论
  • What Are You Really Afraid Of?

    What Are You Really Afraid Of?

    The fear of the unknown. On the surface, it is straightforward: you're scared because you don't know what's coming.

    1 条评论
  • What Are You Really Afraid Of?

    What Are You Really Afraid Of?

    The fear of the unknown. On the surface, it is straightforward: you're scared because you don't know what's coming.