Learnability 23 August

As the summer rolls on, September along with the return to work draws forever nearer, so let's get on with those Learnability tips and nuggets before we run out of time!

Learning Tip 1

I'm still celebrating Spain's success in World Cup this month, so please pardon my taking advantage of the 'goal' metaphor...

Imagine meeting a successful person who didn't start with big goal - it would be unusual, wouldn't it? Well, science backs up this observation, too. Setting goals doesn't just sound good - it actually rewires your brain for success.

Emotion Meets Problem Solving

Inside your brain, the emotional bit (called the amygdala) decides how much a goal matters to you, while the problem-solving part (the prefrontal cortex) figures out what that goal means in practical terms.

These two parts team up to help you concentrate on actions that lead to your learning goal. They also help you steer clear of stuff that distracts you from it.

Now, here's the interesting part - your brain isn't rigid, it's like plasticine. Your braincells keep growing and adapting to what's needed. Thinking about your goals actually reshapes your brain to make it more efficient at achieving them. This brain-changing magic was even observed in a study on patients with multiple sclerosis. It helped them!

But not all goals are created equal. If a goal means a lot to you, your brain sees obstacles as smaller hurdles. Also, a challenging goal gets your brain buzzing more than easy ones. So, if you want your brain to work at its best, aim reasonably high!

In fact, research tells us that specific and tough goals boost performance. They sharpen your focus, make you work harder, and help you stick with it. So, when setting goals, remember:

• They physically rewire your brain.
• Emotionally charged goals work wonders.
• The tougher, the better.

And one last thing - bosses can't magically rewire their employees' brains with goals. But they can lead by example, setting ambitious goals for themselves, hoping to inspire their team to do the same.

So take a moment to consider what your learning goals are? Do they fit the bill? And if not, what are you going to do about it?

Learning Tip 2

It's only a teeny, tiny word, but using 'yet' can be a powerful tool for boosting your learning mindset. 'Yet' carries a lot of weight when it comes to changing the way we think about our abilities and potential.

Let's start by considering how we often approach challenges or new skills. When we encounter something difficult or struggle to grasp a concept, our natural instinct might be to say things like, "I can't do this" or "I'm not good at it." This kind of thinking can be discouraging and limiting. It creates a fixed mindset, where you believe that your abilities are set in stone and can't be improved.

Now, here's where 'yet' comes into play. When you add 'yet' to those negative thoughts, it transforms your mindset. For example, saying, "I can't do this YET" or "I'm not good at it YET" implies that you recognize your current limitations, but you also acknowledge the potential for growth and improvement. It opens up the door to learning and progress.

Using 'yet' encourages a growth mindset, a concept popularised by psychologist Carol Dweck. With a growth mindset, you believe that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. This mindset shift can have several positive effects on your approach to learning:

1. Increased Resilience: When you encounter setbacks or challenges, viewing them as temporary obstacles rather than permanent roadblocks can help you bounce back more easily. You're more likely to keep trying and not give up.
2. Motivation to Learn: 'Yet' fosters a sense of curiosity and a desire to learn. You become more open to seeking out new information and strategies to improve. I can't play the guitar like Jimmy Hendrix, yet!
3. Embracing Effort: You're more willing to put in the effort required for growth because you understand that improvement is possible with practice and hard work.
4. Reduced Fear of Failure: When you see failure as a step on the path to mastery, it becomes less daunting. You're less afraid to take risks and try new things.
5. Increased Confidence: As you make progress and learn, your confidence grows. Each small success reinforces your belief in your ability to learn and adapt.

So, next time you catch yourself saying, "I can't," try adding that magic word, 'yet'. It's a simple linguistic shift that can have a profound impact on your mindset. It's a reminder that your potential is not fixed, and there's always room for growth and improvement. So, keep learning, growing, and embracing challenges because you're not there yet, but you're on your way!

Nugget 1: Video

I've mentioned Mark Rober before and his YouTube channel is fascinating. Mark wears several hats - as well as a YouTuber, he's an engineer, inventor, and educator. But what sets him apart? Well, it's his knack for bringing science and DIY gadgets to life through captivating YouTube videos.

I've chosen to feature this video he's made about Zipline because it's a thought provoking look at how tech is learning to change how we live. How long before it becomes a reality in your corner of the world?

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Click here to see video

Nugget 2: Article

I chose this next nugget because it's a lovely article by Melissa Malec on Learnerbly.com about 'heutagogy'. Heutawhat? Heutagogy is about self-managed learning and nicely explains why you should give it your attention. Here's how it begins...

"Heutagogy. It’s a word you’ve probably never heard before. So, what is it, and what does it have to do with the professional development of your workforce?

Let’s take it back to your primary school days. The approach to how people learn used to be fairly straightforward. Individuals would sit in a classroom and do as the teacher instructed, but progressive educators have begun to adopt a new learning approach — called heutagogy, and it's all about self-managed learning.

While this concept is usually only seen in academia, it can still play an integral part in transformative workplace learning and development. In fact it might be the tool that finally frees your people to fully own their development and practice self-learning..."

To read the full article click here

Nugget 3: Webinar

I would be a total hypocrite if I didn't get out of my comfort zone occasionally, too.

So next month, to support people currently running (or curious about setting up) their own Learning Clubs, I'm going to start a series of webinars starting Thursday, 21st September at 19:00h CET. Things we'll be discussing include...

• How Learning Clubs can be a flexible, relevant and powerful training tool
• How they can generate guaranteed measurable results
• How they are ideal for addressing the real needs of each individual
• Why they create a culture of collaboration and support

The good news is that these are entirely free to my subscribers - just get in touch for a free invite.

The bad news is that I'm running this first one in Spanish - so if English is your only option, you'll have to wait.

Click here for more information (in Spanish)

What I'm Doing This Month

I don’t know about where you are, but here in Barcelona, it’s hot, sticky and quality mental space is at a premium as most of it is occupied with family and holidays.

Nevertheless, I’ve been able to kept up with my (basic) Arabic studies and my summer guitar project is coming along nicely, too - I even bought myself a beginner’s Spanish guitar since my initial one was borrowed.

This month, I republished one of my books (23 Tips to Learn Stuff Better) as it was still on Amazon under my previous publisher’s name.

Before the end of August, I even have one of my Learning Club talks lined up (I wonder if attendees will be in their beachwear?)

And this is also the time of year when I start to prepare for my perennial time working in IESE Business School.

If you’d like to know more about Learning Clubs or my Learnability talks, please feel free to get in touch. I’d love to learn more about the challenges you’re facing and how I can help.

In the meantime, all the best and keep learning!