How To Learn Something New Fast

Having been a trainer for 30 plus years, I have noticed that people learn best and fastest what they teach others. When we have to explain a procedure, concept, or demonstrate a skill to an other person we integrate the information mentally, physically and emotionally in a completely different way than when we are just listening to the information.

If you are currently trying to learn something new, start teaching it to someone else as fast as you can. You will quickly discover what you do not understand or pieces of information that you have missed or misinterpreted.

Because you will have to translate the information into your own words you will begin to 'own' the information mentally. Teaching requires you to think of related analogies and experiences. This connects the information to your internal data base and 'hooks' it into your deeper long term memory.

As you demonstrate what you are teaching, the information automatically integrates into the muscular cellular structure of your body. If your are interested in or excited about the topic, sharing the information will engage your emotional creative energy and before you know it you will be on a great natural high.

The more times you teach the material, the more deeply you will come to know and understand the subtle aspects of the subject. The information will take on a richness and context that would never have occurred to you otherwise.

The Quickest Way To Increase
the Mastery Of Your Natural Gifts

We all have natural gifts and because they are so easy for us, we are often baffled when others don't 'catch on' immediately. A gift is a talent or ability in which we have unconscious competence. I often hear clients say, 'It's so natural to me I have no idea how to teach it to someone else.' or 'You've either got it or you don't and it just can't be taught.' This is a serious problem if you need to teach someone to be as successful a sales person or manager as you are in order to grow your business.

In reality it--whatever 'it' is--can be taught. The trick is to take apart your own personal process and become conscious of what and how you do 'it'.

How do you think about the problem or condition before you take action? What are your assumptions? What analytical process do you go through to decide what steps to take in a given situation? What kind of dialogue do you go through in your head? How does your body give you signals or feelings which guide you? What visual clues do you look for to evaluate the situation? In what order do you take the action steps, what questions do you ask and why?

You may need a coach, mentor or friend to help you dissect your process. It may be a bit frustrating at firsts but it is well worth the effort. When you know how and why, what you do works, you can do more of it on purpose and produce even greater results. Knowing that you can train others in your skills and knowledge will empower you to delegate vital work to others so that you are freed up to grow your business and yourself to the next level.

 

Joan Bolmer, 3307 Lake Ridge Bend, Spring TX, 77380; Office 832.458.0455
Copyright (c) 2007-2010, by Joan Bolmer, all rights reserved. Contact Joan Bolmer by e-mail at joan@bolmer.com Website: http://www.bolmer.com Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute this article so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached.