Unreal ‘Unlearning’
January 23rd, 2007I was sent a copy of the International Society for Performance Improvement’s (ISPI) magazine recently - somehow I got a promotional copy, perhaps from a speech I gave, or a website I visited. My first thought was “hey, I’ll give that a look. Performance improvement is a good thing.”
Wow, was I mistaken.
I generally pause at any article I read that has lots of footnotes - it implies an academic bent that usually means, “not actionable”, or more bluntly, “not real world.” The one article that really caught me had 4 footnotes for a one page article.
I tore it out, and I shared it with Mike (since I am in DC with him today). Part of it was that it used an acronym …uhhh… awkwardly.
It suggested an “Unlearn Bucket”. On the bucket, clockwise, were the letters of Unlearn, as in: Upload, Nurture, Launch, Experience, Assess, Release, Neutralize.
Unreal.
Seriously - I just don’t know what else to say.
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January 23rd, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Thanks for sharing. It’s amazing what people come up with sometimes. Especially academics.
January 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I have enough trouble learning stuff and now I’ve got work on “unlearning”. Time to go to my happy place!!
January 23rd, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Tim,
Think of it more as a change management issue.
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
–Alvin Toffler
Notice he made his point without an acronym?
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Could somebody pass me some granola, some incense and a few crystals? Maybe then that acronym will make sense and the concept behind it will sound like a good one. Oh yeah, we better sing a few rounds of Kumbayah too.
No, on second thought, I’m pretty sure a bong would be necessary, and since I don’t partake of such things, I think I’ll just have to pass on the whole UNLEARN bucket concept.
Nurture? Why can I just imagine both Mark and Mike’s heads ready to explode.
Paul
January 24th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Didn’t Deming say the same thing decades ago and did it in only four steps? “Plan, Do, Check, Act” works for me.
January 24th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Perhaps the new Dark Ages are upon us…
Al
January 24th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I just discovered your podcast, and this type of thing is precisely why it is now my favorite. You two keep your lessons simple and applicable and CLEAR.
Let me join the chorus: I wish I’d had the benefit of your wisdom years ago.
January 24th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
CKellum4-
Glad you’re with us! And thanks for the choral melody.
Mark
January 24th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
I’m guessing reading the entire article didn’t throw any more light on it either? - and they spelled neutralise wrong.
Peter
January 29th, 2007 at 3:01 am
I think you said it best Paul. When I read the steps I thought it sounded more like the easy steps to get the most of your crack pipe. Crack - the fast way to unlearn anything.
Academia, you got to love ‘em, they give smart people something to chuckle about. I’m chucking right now.
md