This informal CPD article, ‘How to Unlearn: Letting Go of What You Know to Move Forward’, was provided by iAM Learning, who are transforming the way your workforce trains and retains, using high-end animation, lovable characters and captivating stories to make even the most serious subjects appealing and unforgettable.
Your brain is like a filing cabinet. Stay with us on this one. Every day, you learn new things. The new information you absorb, the things you see, scraps of paper and photos that get added to the drawers. The more experiences you have, the fuller the cabinet gets, and the more files it has to contain. Concepts, ideas and memories move from drawer to drawer as you compartmentalise, and sometimes you’ll recall moments, and they move back into the top drawer for a time.
As children, the filing cabinet is empty. It grows fuller each day. That means children are much more willing to look at new ways of learning and change the things they know as they get more information. Adults are much more likely to look into their full filing cabinet for answers. You’ve dealt with a situation before, so you check back and see how, rather than taking a different approach.
But how can you grow, personally or professionally, if you never challenge yourself and only check the knowledge and habits you already have? Welcome to the world of unlearning.
Unlearning isn’t about erasing that hard-earned experience. It’s about creating mental flexibility – realising that your thinking may be outdated and moving those files around to create room for fresh perspectives and innovative approaches. And believe this - your filing cabinet can never get full. Think of it as decluttering.
The Hidden Barriers to Growth
Have you ever thought about unlearning before? Most professionals don’t realise that they’re holding on to old ways of thinking. After all, our brains are wired to protect us, which means that they naturally resist change and stick with ‘safe’. This manifests through:
- Confirmation bias: We subconsciously seek information that support our existing beliefs
- Comfort zone traps: Familiar methods feel safe, even when they’re no longer effective
- Status quo bias: Change feels risky, so we default to “We’ve always done it this way”
These psychological barriers are subtle, but also powerful. They can make us resistant to new tech, management approaches, or even innovative problem-solving techniques. For example, you might need to unlearn the belief that constant supervision leads to productivity. Instead, embrace a trust-based approach that focuses on clear goals and measured outcomes instead of monitoring every task.
Beginning to Unlearn
If you feel like this hit the nail on the head, don’t worry, it’s normal to have these biases. We all do, to some extent. But if you want to grow, then you’ll have to start to unlearn. Here’s how:
- Identify your blind spots. Start by examining the way you do things. Ask yourself what assumptions you’re making without bothering to question. Ask which methods you’ve used for years without evaluating their effectiveness and where your current approach might be limiting potential solutions.
- Embrace curiosity. After all, it’s the antidote to rigid thinking. Cultivate it by seeking out different perspectives from your own, listening more than you speak in meetings, and reading widely across as many disciplines as you can, not just your immediate field of expertise.
- Develop a growth mindset. You won’t be able to unlearn unless you believe you can change. A growth mindset will help you view challenges as opportunities rather than threats. You must remember, skills and intelligence aren’t fixed – they can be developed. That’s how you’ve got to this point in the first place.
3 Practical Ways to Unlearn
Consider the below ways to get started on your unlearning journey to see how you get on.
1. Take the 30-day challenge. Choose one professional habit or belief to deliberately challenge. Document your experiences and insights
2. Reverse Mentoring – Connect with younger colleagues or those from different parts of the business. They may give you a fresh perspective and highlight those unconscious biases.
3. Reflect, regularly. Set some time aside to review your approaches. What’s working? What might be holding you back?
Make Unlearning a Habit
Unlearning isn’t just something you can do once and forget about. It’s a continuous practice. Adaptable professionals exercise their minds like any other muscle, stretching and challenging it. Remember, every innovation starts with someone letting go of “the way things are done” and imagining something different.
By embracing unlearning, you aren’t getting rid of your experience. You’re making it more powerful, relevant and adaptable to the challenges that lay ahead.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from iAM Learning, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
