Being Safe Means You Can’t Stand Still

The look of indifference on her face and her constant yawning made it apparent she was not with us by choice.

Unlike the others in the webinar, she didn’t appear interested or engaged in learning anything about future-ready community leadership.

Later, I learned she was in the session only because her Director had made it clear it wasn’t optional. Perhaps not a good choice for her or the organization. My own ego and confidence as the facilitator also took a bit of a hit.

Regardless, authentic learning is unlikely to occur until any individual embraces the need for growth. On the other hand, people tend to develop and change when they feel responsible for their progress.

If you have experienced learning something new as a result of being curious or passionate about a topic, that likely won’t be news to you.

Unfortunately, the reality is that our education systems and workplaces often encourage us to believe that someone else is responsible for our learning and growth. Many still think it is someone else’s job to tell them what they need to learn or unlearn and how to improve at doing it.

Both unlearning and new learning are essential for everyone if we are to address the complex issues and opportunities in our communities.

We will also need to ensure that local action is framed within the global priorities outlined by the UN as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

                       

As the reluctant webinar participant was likely experiencing, unlearning and learning new things can be disconcerting. Even more challenging will be the need to teach ourselves and one another how to unlearn and absorb new knowledge and skills simultaneously. Our ability to learn will be the key to surviving and thriving.

I’m pretty certain that the woman who attended our webinar under duress considers herself safe. The reality is that standing still and not being committed to one’s own growth and development in today’s fast-moving world is rarely the best option. This is all the more reason why being future-ready means taking responsibility for our own personal growth and development. That means being committed to learning, unlearning, and relearning.

Years ago, as Alvin Toffler, the noted futurist and author of Future Shock, wrote,

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

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