Saratoga

Saratoga

We partner with successful companies and convert their business ideas into meaningful technology solutions

T (South Africa) +27 (0) 21 658 4100
T (UK) +44 (0) 20 363 78024

Email: [email protected]

Saratoga
4 Greenwich Grove, Station Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700

Open in Google Maps
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT SARATOGA
    • VALUE PROPOSITION
    • COMPANY TIMELINE
    • LEADERSHIP TEAM
    • CSR INITIATIVES
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • PAIA MANUAL
  • OUR SERVICES
    • SERVICES
    • CASE STUDIES
    • CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
    • CLIENTS
  • OUR PEOPLE
  • INSIGHTS
  • CAREERS
    • OUR VALUES
    • JOIN THE TEAM
    • SARATOGAN LIFE
CONTACT
US

Learning, unlearning and relearning

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 / Published in Insights, Latest News

Learning, unlearning and relearning

Life has an interesting way of testing the worldviews that we hold. Simple moments such as project stakeholders who hold differing opinions, or team members who have established their approaches with no room for revision. At first, these moments may be jarring as we’re confronted with information that sparks the questioning of our personal ingrained biases, assumptions or ideas. Let’s be honest, nothing hits home like a good dose of introspection and reflection. Opening your mind to a new way of thinking, appreciating different ideas and opinions brings about a valuable opportunity for growth.

This year I received a recommendation to read Factfulness by Hans Rosling. The book was filled with enlightening facts that sheds light on some of the most generally believed worldviews. Using statistics and facts, Hans showed that things are not as bad as they may seem. One of the quotes stood out to me was:

“I want people, when they realize they have been wrong about the world, to feel not embarrassment, but that childlike sense of wonder, inspiration, and curiosity…“

– Hans Rosling, Factfulness

This got me thinking about my own worldviews – which ones I should continue to hold and the ones I should discard. I reflected on my own past behaviours, actions and responses when my opinions and frames of thinking had been challenged. I also contemplated on the importance and need to cultivate my sense of curiosity and what that may afford me in terms of growth and development.

My thoughts shifted to the industry and professions that we navigate on a daily basis. As consultants we interact with a myriad of stakeholders who we need to influence and get buy-in from in order to progress to the next checkpoint in the project. These times often bring about conflicting ideas, opinions and perhaps the realisation that there are smarter ways of approaching problems. Jointly, feelings of embarrassment and doubt creep in as we contemplate all the things that we should have known, done or said. And, there lies the sweet spot. The opportunity to tap into that sense of curiosity, understanding and to invite dialogue to discover alternative styles and reasoning.

The dynamic nature of our profession calls for individuals who have the tenacity to think critically, and to improve their knowledge and skills through continual learning, unlearning and relearning.

Self-directed learning

As consultants we are continually faced with the need to upskill, and we need to take the initiative to keep up to date with trends, tools and methodologies. This sense of learning enables us to critique existing information, processes and code to deliver immediate value on projects. Given the explosion of information and technologies this skill has become increasingly beneficial.

Conscious unlearning

In order to effectively improve our knowledge and skills on an ongoing basis requires a healthy self-awareness. As a consultant you need awareness of the knowledge and skills that serves you, the knowledge that does not, and the knowledge that you still need to acquire or skills you need to develop. We can achieve this by unleashing the opportunity to unlearn old frames of thinking by being aware and open to new information. As Hans Rosling noted, looking at the world with a curious eye may offer up the freedom to rediscover. What may have worked in the past may no longer be valuable, appropriate or successful in the current context.

Intentional relearning

Unlearning creates a space for relearning, by laying the foundation for fresh information and learning. This allows for new and more productive ways of approaching work which may complement your existing knowledge and skills. The context that you work in and how it may have changed, provides a good basis for understanding the new methods, tools and skills that may be useful in your projects. For consultants, the ability to adjust and adapt is essential for thriving in today’s competitive business landscape.

Learning, unlearning and relearning is the proverbial constant change that consultants need to be intentional about. Reflecting and re-evaluating our deep-rooted assumptions, beliefs and reasoning as consultants will enable us to successfully navigate the workplace as it continues to shift and transform.

Written by Inga Davids, Business Consultant at Saratoga.

What you can read next

Source Control – More than just a repository
Artificial Intelligence and the future of the business consultant.
Saratoga Shares Insights From The 2016 BA Summit

Recent Posts

  • Insights into a software testing career

    By Shinaaz Osman, Senior Quality Assurance Cons...
  • Common misconceptions about software testing

    By Shinaaz Osman, Senior Quality Assurance Cons...
  • Devconf 2022 lessons and highlights

    ‘Insightful, stimulating, diverse, inspirationa...
  • Our DevOps automation journey

    By Daniel Barrett, Lead Technical Consultant at...
  • Mob programming | Collaborative coding as a remote team

    Stephan Bester, Senior Developer at Saratoga, s...

Categories

  • Case Studies
  • Insights
  • Latest News
  • Networking
  • Staff Profiles
  • Technology

CONTACT US

Please fill in this form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!

T +27 (0) 21 658 4100 | F +27 (0) 86 575 7170 | UK T +44 (0) 20 363 78024

4 Greenwich Grove, Station Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700

COVID-19 Information

© Copyright Saratoga 2000 - 2021. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.

TOP
We use cookies to improve user experience, personalised content and analyse website traffic. By clicking “Accept,” you consent to store on your device all the technologies described in our Cookie Policy. To learn more about our use of cookies, view our "Cookie Settings".
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorised as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT