Helpful tips for challenges in the learning process

One of the challenges in the learning process is to identify opportunities for improvement in any given situation when we are involved in it. Here are some actions that can help identify actions subject to improvement and learning.

Let’s call The Event any situation subject to learn or that we would like to do better if the same (or a similar) situation occurs in the future. It could be a report, an email, the participation in a meeting, something was expected from us but we didn’t do it as expected, a goal not achieved, or anything subject to be done better.

1.        Have difficulty putting yourself in the spot in front of others? This is not a problem, do the evaluation alone, but don’t use this as a reason to evade the evaluation and the learning process. Group evaluations and brainstorming provide a different view of improvement opportunities and learning but also have challenges. You can leave the group evaluations for specific cases or when you are ready to participate.

2.        Stop thinking of the consequences. At least for short periods, eliminate the temptation to glimpse at the consequences of The Event. Focus on the cause, why it happened, only the ‘why’. Thinking of the consequences can introduce bias in identifying and evaluating the causes.

3.        Put The Event as if you are the unique person involved. This will bring you to full control mode, turning the outcome of The Event into the result of your actions or inactions. From this perspective, you can have new information about what you would change, add, or eliminate to have a better or a different outcome. You will also identify holes in actions or information you don’t know because it is provided by others, giving you additional information for improvement, learning, or comprehension.

4.        Step outside of The Event, even if you are a part of it. From an external perspective, consider the actions or information you would like others to do in the same situation. These insights are invaluable for the learning process, as they remind us that 'we don’t always do what we want others to do', sometimes because we don’t know how to do it.