The How To Learn Podcast

A cheerful mini-rant about good intentions and bad habits. Why do we trip up our own learning with procrastination, poor planning, bad filing and other habits? Or maybe it's just Jonathan? Plus a bonus moan on how the route to free content is strewn with annoying extras and roadblocks. Rant along with How To Learn..!

"You can tell when you're reading from the notes."

In this 5-minute mini-podcast, Thembi and Jonathan chat about office skills, and plunge straight into two examples: how to facilitate meetings, and how to deliver presentations. How did they actually get better over time? (assuming they did)

The episode covers:

- the role of observation, copying and practice

- using an emotional reaction to things you don't like, to motivate yourself to do better

- seeking out the things you won't observe for yourself: eg getting feedback, and getting insight from experts via formal learning.

Improving your impact is a messy process, but you can also get better at getting better!

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A new study shows the difference that managers can make in encouraging their staff to pick up training opportunities. 'High-training managers' see up to 50% more participation - with benefits for performance and productivity.

In this mini-podcast, Thembi and Jonathan discuss:

- the link to leadership potential: are 'high-training managers' the leaders of the future?

- what to do if you've got a different type of manager..

We're all tempted to rush into a new job or project, to show that we can 'hit the ground running'.. but in this mini-podcast Thembi and Jonathan say: Please don't.

Much better approach:

- take your time, you have to crawl before you can walk (let alone run)

- be kind to yourself, it's ok not to know things

- don't abandon your induction halfway

- keep an induction mindset, and never stop asking questions.

We have a disagreement in this podcast: when you see a colleague demonstrate a real skill, is it intimidating ("oh wow, I don't know how to do that") or is it inspiring ("oh wow, show me how")? Either way, we think we should definitely learn more from others in the workplace.

The discussion also covers:

- are we losing random workplace learning?

- how can we be more curious, and more grateful? 

Please share your ideas on getting the most out of workplace learning!

Thinking about your workplace: do team members feel able to admit mistakes? Do you feel comfortable asking questions, and expressing incomplete ideas?

Or do you find yourself avoiding situations, questioning your own capability, and feeling demotivated or stressed?

How you feel in the workplace is a major factor in how (and whether) you learn and develop. In this mini-podcast, Thembi and Jonathan explore Amy Edmondson's concept of 'psychological safety' and what to look out for - good and bad.

Don't bother blocking out time for learning.. just find a learning buddy instead!

In this episode, Thembi and Jonathan talk about how they used the learning buddy system to finally get round to reading a book (Julie Dirksen's Design for How People Learn). In the end, we feel more accountable to other people than to our Outlook or Google Calendars. Let's use that power!

The medieval apprenticeship model was a superb piece of learning design. Unfortunately a seven year skills programme is a hard sell in the modern workplace :)

But you can still use the apprenticeship model for your own benefit, even if you're not technically an apprentice, and even if you don't aspire to become a master violin-maker in Bavaria.

In this mini-podcast, Thembi and Jonathan offer a quick checklist: how do you know you've developed an apprenticeship mindset?