Best,
Nancy K.

So, we blame ourselves because we think it is our fault that we cannot learn in the time frame we generally have been given. Let alone, most of us have different styles of learning and are rarely offered any other way to absorb the information other than the less than adequate explanation we are given by a generally highly agressive boss. Sink or Drown are usually what we are presented with in our jobs. This anxiety adds additional stress causing our bodies to release higher levels of cortisol which in turn blocks our memory’s ability to retain information. We find we now cannot attend to what we are supposed to learn and get even more anxious. Pretty soon our ability to learn anything goes out the window. It is a pretty vicious cycle.

So, we carry that outside of work when we need to learn something new for our own pleasure or business. Generally when we are faced with a new learning situation we regress to approximately fifth grade level. This is pretty scary if your job requires a high intellect to survive. But, we need to acknowledge in the moment that this is not an intellectual regression on our part, but a necessary way to start to absorb the information easily. Learning is like a wrapping a large ball of string. We must start wrapping it at the smallest unit of information that we can handle. They we need to wrap and rewrap each layer of information as we go, practicing over and over what we need to, to feel we have integrated that level. We can’t go flying forward because we will not have the foundation of that previous level to support the next. Finally, yes, we are able to hold the whole large ball of string in our memory banks.

As you can see, with a complex concept or skill, this is how much time you need to give yourself to absorb it. Rarely are we given this option in the corporate world.

—

Wow, amazing comment Nancy! Thanks so much for sharing your perspective, I totally agree with it!

All the best,

-Pam

But, that still won’t build body/muscle/brain memories so that something new can be done effortlessly.

Mark Silver’s last blog post..Is Opt-In an Evil Gimmick?

Stage 5 means that these individuals know what to do; can do it with out thinking about it and can effectively teach others.

There are allot of people who are unconsciously competent that are unaware of their strategy, process, techniques, tactics, knowledge, and/or skills they apply to get their results. Therefore, they can’t methodically explain how and why they do what they do so others can duplicate the results.

This is a subject very near and dear to my heart. I love to learn about learning. I think one thing missing from the model that people need to understand is the time commitment. Psychologists have found that it takes about 10,000 hours to develop expertise which usually takes a person on the level of 5 to 10 years. I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that it’s fairly easy to move from level one to level two, and not very difficult from level two to level three. Moving from level three to level four though is arduous. As mike suggested earlier, that is “The Dip” Seth Godin wrote of.

I’ve been researching and writing about this for a while. If you are interested I would love to hear your thoughts on what I’ve written so far. I’ve got four entries in a five part series written. You can view it here:

http://gannonbeck.com/2007/05/10/unchain-your-brain-part-i/

I just found your site today through Seth’s post, by the way. You’re blog is fantastic and you have been immediately added to the blogroll.

Gannon

Great post. I really needed it today as I work on my Product Factory assignment, feeling overwhelmed and uncomfortable. At least now I know it is partly because of my stage of learning. Aha!

Thanks. Love your blog!