The Need of Unlearning

The journey to personal and professional growth is marked not only by the ability to learn new things but also, more critically, by the capacity to unlearn. This is a skill many overlook, yet in a world of constant transformation, the ability to let go of outdated knowledge and adapt is invaluable. From the habits ingrained in us since childhood to the biases and perceptions built over years, the journey to unlearning can be as challenging as it is transformative. I’ve personally found this to be true in my transition from a technical IT background—where everything is logical and predictable—to the ever-evolving, ambiguous world of sales and entrepreneurship.

What Does It Mean to Learn?

Learning is about acquiring knowledge, understanding processes, and developing skills that enable us to function, solve problems, and make informed decisions. In the early stages of our lives and careers, learning is typically structured. In the IT world where I spent much of my early career, learning meant diving deep into technical details, developing expertise, and applying that knowledge in clear, structured ways. There were rules and patterns, and the outcomes were often predictable.

For most, learning becomes a habit—something we do by instinct. We learn to approach challenges in specific ways, develop routines, and rely on the comfort of proven methods. But as the world changes and industries evolve, the very knowledge and habits that once propelled us can become limiting. That’s where unlearning comes in.

What Does It Mean to Unlearn?

Unlearning isn’t about erasing knowledge. Rather, it’s about letting go of established frameworks and perceptions that no longer serve us. Think of it as clearing a pathway in a dense forest. As you walk that path every day, it becomes easier to navigate. But as seasons change and trees grow, that once-clear path may lead to a dead-end, requiring us to forge a new route. Similarly, unlearning is about creating space to see the world differently, to allow new experiences and perspectives to reshape our approach.

Why Unlearning Is Critical

The need to unlearn has never been more urgent. In my own experience, the transition from a black-and-white IT world to the fluid, nuanced landscape of sales and marketing demanded a complete overhaul of my mindset. In IT, there’s a reason things work or don’t work—logic is the law. But in sales and marketing, the rules are not as defined. One strategy may yield phenomenal results in one context and fail miserably in another. This unpredictability forced me to challenge my reliance on logical, clear-cut answers and embrace adaptability.

As I ventured into entrepreneurship, I realized the importance of unlearning even further. I knew how to manage a team, solve technical problems, and lead projects. But leading a business was different. I had to unlearn habits that, while effective in my previous role as an IT specialist, became restrictive as a founder. Instead of seeking precision in everything, I had to start valuing ambiguity, open-mindedness, and the art of balancing various perspectives.

Old Habits Die Hard

We are all creatures of habit. Many of the behaviors and approaches we rely on are built on years of repetition. Unlearning, therefore, is not a one-time act but a continuous effort to break free from these mental constructs. In my early days in sales, for example, I clung to a habit of analyzing everything down to the last detail, trying to find a logical structure in every conversation, assuming there was always a reason why something didn’t work. But I learned (often painfully) that sales doesn’t always operate on straightforward cause and effect. Sometimes, clients didn’t respond well to pitches, not because of a flaw in the product, but due to factors as subtle as timing, personal rapport, or even subconscious bias.

This inability to let go of deeply ingrained habits can be one of the biggest barriers to growth. By learning to recognize and dismantle these habits, however, we create space to build new, adaptive behaviors that are better suited to our goals.

My Experience: The Shift from Employee to Employer

As I transitioned from a technical expert to a business founder, I encountered a significant shift in mindset. I was used to working within the bounds of clear roles and expectations, where my job was to implement solutions based on established guidelines. But as an founder, I realized that leading a business was about more than managing projects or meeting targets; it required a comprehensive understanding of how to inspire, delegate, and create a vision for the future.

Leadership, I discovered, was not merely about providing direction but about empowering others to take initiative. I had to unlearn the need for constant control and learn to trust my team, accepting that mistakes and detours were part of the growth process. This shift didn’t happen overnight. It was an ongoing journey—one that is still evolving today. I had to become comfortable with not knowing all the answers, something that was once unthinkable in my previous role.

The Role of Critical Thinking and our Cognative Bias

An essential part of unlearning involves developing critical thinking and becoming aware of our biases. As humans, we are inherently biased. We carry perceptions, formed by years of experiences and social conditioning, that influence our decisions and perspectives. When I started leading a team, I realized that my IT background had conditioned me to think in a linear, cause-and-effect way. However, managing a business isn’t always about logic; it’s about understanding human psychology, market trends, and the nuances of behavior.

Critical thinking involves questioning our assumptions and being open to alternative interpretations. For instance, when a sales strategy failed, my initial instinct was to assume it was due to poor execution. But as I honed my critical thinking, I began to see that other factors, like market sentiment, competitor moves, or even internal team morale, played crucial roles.

Bias also comes into play in the way we perceive success and failure. In the technical world, success was often a binary outcome: either the code worked, or it didn’t. In business, however, success is multifaceted and dynamic. I had to unlearn my tendency to see outcomes in terms of black and white and embrace a more flexible, big-picture view.

Strategies to Embrace Unlearning

1. Question Your Assumptions: Regularly challenge your beliefs and ask yourself why you hold them. For example, if you believe that a particular marketing approach won’t work, dig into the reason why. Is it based on past experiences, or is it a rigid belief that may no longer apply?
2. Stay Curious: Curiosity is the antidote to rigidity. In my case, shifting from IT to sales demanded a whole new way of thinking. I had to cultivate a beginner’s mindset and embrace the idea that there was always something new to learn, no matter how experienced I thought I was.
3. Seek Diverse Perspectives: Surround yourself with people from various backgrounds and disciplines. I learned more about sales and marketing from conversations with non-technical colleagues than I ever did from formal training.
4. Accept and Reflect on Failure: Unlearning requires a willingness to fail and learn from it. I’ve had plenty of failed sales pitches and marketing campaigns, but each one taught me something new and allowed me to adjust my approach.
5. Practice Mindfulness: Being aware of your thoughts and behaviors is critical for unlearning. Mindfulness helps us observe our patterns and identify those that may no longer serve us.
6. Reframe Mistakes as Growth Opportunities: Rather than viewing mistakes as failures, see them as opportunities to learn and improve. This shift in mindset is crucial in developing resilience and a willingness to adapt.

Final Thoughts: Unlearning Is a Lifelong Journey

Unlearning is not a destination but a process—one that requires patience, self-reflection, and a deep commitment to growth. The mind shift from an one role to another, from certainty to ambiguity, and from logic to intuition has been challenging but immensely rewarding. In today’s world, where change is constant and information overload is the norm, the ability to unlearn is perhaps more valuable than any specific skill set.

As you embark on your own journey of unlearning, remember that old habits die hard. But with conscious effort and an open mind, you can break free from outdated thinking and make room for new ideas, strategies, and possibilities. Embrace the journey with curiosity and resilience, and you’ll find that unlearning can be a powerful catalyst for growth, both personally and professionally.

Reflect on your current beliefs and practices. What habits or thought patterns are holding you back? Commit to the journey of unlearning, and see how it can unlock new opportunities for you. Unlearning is not about forgetting; it’s about evolving.