The power of turning your to-do list into a to-learn list
Rachel Botsman
Leading expert on trust in the modern world. Author of WHAT’S MINE IS YOURS, WHO CAN YOU TRUST? And HOW TO TRUST & BE TRUSTED, writer and curator of the popular newsletter RETHINK.
Research shows that during the average 40-hour workweek, employees have only 24 minutes to learn. That is crazy. “Real work” often bumps learning time aside. How can people grow and learn new skills if no time or space is given to learning?
Part of the problem stems from how we approach the much loved to-do list that tends to focus on tasks and immediate deadlines.?
How do you typically organize your tasks and get things done? I love a to-do list, but most lists feel like a dull task-management system of endless items to cross off. How many days do you get through every single item, and besides, what do we do then? Start another one!
We can learn from brilliant minds like Leonardo Da Vinci to think differently about how to turn a ‘to-do’ list into a ‘to-learn’ list.
Take a look at one of the pages from his notebook in the early 1490’s:
Here are some of the things he listed (Please see Robert Krulwich’s full translation):
What a list! It’s bursting with inspiring ambition – he didn’t limit himself. When I looked more closely at the list, what struck me was how many of his items were about learning, and learning from other people.?
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Frequently cited research from Deloitte suggests that workers make just 1% of their time at work available for learning. LinkedIn’s research makes a similar claim (see page 37 of this report).
Putting into practice
There is an easy yet powerful habit we can steal from Da Vinci:?
If we keep doing this, our TO-DO lists can transform into TO-LEARN lists brimming with productivity AND creativity.?
I’d love to hear about how you or your team organize your to-do’s. What’s something you’d add to your list to learn about?
Warmly,
Love. Serve. Care.
5 个月I agree! I have added learning about something new every day recently and it’s invigorating! It is also contagious with friends with whom I discuss my newfound information! There are even games that challenge your knowledge in diverse areas. I first received Dictionary Scoop by email and found it to generate even more enthusiasm about learning!
Scuola 3, media presso Borgo Petilia, Caltanissetta.
5 个月Thank You !
AlgoSec Specialist/ Netv?rksspecialist at JN Data
5 个月Love this
AI Software Engineer | ex-IMG | PhD | Rhodes Scholar
5 个月Inspiring and inspiring! Thanks Rachel Botsman. In my previous company, 10% innovation time was encouraged. And guess what? The high performing team members are the ones while actually made use of that innovation time to do really cool things! It could be that they got through the ToDo list quick enough to have spare time, but most likely because they got more efficient by upskilling ??
Human WD40. CEO catalyst, strategist and coach. Growth-oriented leaders work with me to scale and lead business their way, so they can break new ground without breaking themselves.
5 个月Interesting Rachel Botsman The world needs more curiosity and be more comfortable with 'not knowing', failure and risk. Social learning and collaboration are becoming increasingly crucial in AI-driven ecosystems, and knowledge sharing and being truly human is the forgotten gold. Leaders need to model and nurture this thinking and the mindset that learning is more than 'training'. I'd love to read more about the research you mention, do share a link here please.