InformalLearning.mp3 - powered by Happy Scribe

You're listening to the MentalNotes podcast. In this episode, MentalNotes founder Scott Dow explains how to learn while getting real work done.

If you're going to self-coach, you've got to be able to learn on the go. You have to trigger your own learning opportunities. You have to squeeze knowledge out of everyday life. It's not easy, but I've got good news. Everything you need to know about adult learning or informal learning, you can learn from a child.

Let me explain. I have four grown kids and they're all very different. But then when they were little kids, five year old, seven year old, whatever, they had the same favorite word. And that word was "why". Daddy, why do zebras have stripes? Daddy, why don't kids have beards? Daddy, why does storms scare dogs?

Parents know what I'm talking about. My kids were no different than all the other little kids. They had child-like curiosity. But as adults, we tend to lose that child-like curiosity. And when we do, we start missing out on learning opportunities.

Think about it this way. Think about little kids. They're fed by adults, right? Their meals and snacks are provided for them. They get their nourishment, their food in a very structured fashion.

But we educate them the same way. They go to pre-school, grammar school and high school, and they're spoon-fed this curriculum. But when kids become teenagers, they start getting their own food, their own meals. It's liberating. They get to eat with their friends. They get to eat more of what they want. They become self-sufficient.

The problem is that doesn't happen with learning. Most people assume that learning still has to be formal. You have to have an instructor. You have to have this set curriculum. But you don't. Adults take responsibility for nourishing their body, and you have to take the same responsibility for nourishing your mind.

There are three learning strategies you can learn from a child. And the first one says, "Be curious. Embrace the child-like curiosity. Get good at asking why." There are people out there doing exactly what you want to do. Find where they are. Be curious. Ask them questions. People are happy to share their experience. There's a wealth of knowledge out there you can tap into. You just have to ask. You have to ask why.

The second thing is this, watch and learn. Early in my business career, I volunteered as a high school basketball coach. I coached the freshman basketball team at Jesuit High School in Dallas. And my oldest son would travel to games with us. He was maybe five or six at the time, and he'd sit on the bench with us during games.

He became a favorite of our parents, our students, and even some of the officials because he'd mimic me. He was called Mini Me. When I stood, he stood. When I clapped, he clapped. When I stomped my foot and yelled at the ref, he would too. The refs really got a kick out of that.

My point is this. Children learn by watching and mimicking others, and you should too. We as adults can too. But you have an advantage over kids. You're able to be more selective about what you mimic. Kids sometimes mimic bad behaviors like stomping their foot on the ground and hollering at officials. But we don't have to, we have the value of perspective and judgment. There are people out there doing exactly what you want to do. They're called role models for a reason. Find them. Be curious. Watch them in action and mimic their positive actions.

And the third thing is this. Kids learn through trial and error. Failure doesn't stop them. Have you ever watched a kid learn how to ride a bike? It's not pretty. They're wobbling back and forth. They're falling and getting banged up. And there's maybe even some tears. But you know what? Through trial and error, they figure it out. They plow through the learning curve, the growth curve, and they figure it out.

There's something out there you want to get good at. Dive in. Experiment. Don't let failure stop you. It's a process. Each failure gets you closer to pedaling that bike on your own.

So here's how you practice adult learning or informal learning. I want you to start small. Pick one thing you want to get good at. Now, you need to set practice goals. Your first goal is to find someone with knowledge on the subject. Ask the person's permission to pick their brain. You'll be surprised how open people are. Be a curious child. Ask why.

The second goal is this. Find someone that's good and what you want to be good at, and find a way to watch them in action. Study them. You might be able to kill two birds with one stone. The person with knowledge on the subject might also allow you to watch them in action.

And your third goal is this. Get on the bike. Start pedaling. Start doing what you want to be good at. Fail often, and fail fast. That's how you accelerate learning.