The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who can learn, unlearn, and relearn. Unlearning is the process of discarding something from your memory. Why exactly would you want to unlearn something?
7 Tips for Unlearning in the Workplace
Unlearning is vital in today’s workplace.
- Employees need to unlearn in order to move forward alongside their company so they can move ahead, work more effectively, and further the company’s mission
- Here are seven tips to help you unlearn
Continuous support and checking in
Unlearning may be as difficult for the company as it is for individual employee. To ensure a smooth transition, encourage colleagues to help each other out.
- Consider creating a support team to handle the unlearning process. This team can handle any glitches that arise.
Foster a Sense of Willingness
People are more co-operative in the unlearning process if they are willing participants
- Ease into the idea during a transitional period
- Gradually assist employees by letting them unlearn and relearn slowly and over a specified time period
Foster curiosity
Encourage employees to find their inner child – their sense of curiosity that leads to increased creativity
- Ask yourself: What would you do today if you weren’t afraid?
- A child learns by engaging the five senses and investigating new situations through trial and error
- The same methodology translates to the process of unlearning and then learning something new
Pursue the unfamiliar
When confronted with new technology or a new idea, many people look backwards for something familiar
- In order to grasp new ideas and let them take hold, you need to pursue the things that are unfamiliar and get to know them
- Let go of the familiar and open your mind to the unfamiliar
Set Goals and Make Success Clear
Employees respond better to the unlearning process if they have specific goals
- Goals have the ability to provide motivation and self-reliance
- Make sure goals set are attainable and make the steps clear so employees can check them off their to-do list
The take away
Employees must continue to unlearn, learn, and relearn in order to stay relevant in today’s modern, digital workforce
- Unlearning is vital to stay current and not dive into the world of the obsolete
- The most overlooked aspect of learning is the process of unlearning
- In order to learn and move forward, employees must be willing to work through the process
Change the location
Move away from the location where you learned it.
Learn from your opposite
When employees are surrounded by like-mind people, their ability to learn is hampered
