Futurist and philosopher Alvin Toffler once stated –
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
The Covid 19 pandemic has only further accelerated the dramatic changes to the work environment and all its elements. Over the past several years globalisation of talent, socio economic changes and constant innovation of technology had already profoundly impacted the way we need to work as we move to the future.
Your company’s potential to adapt and proactively change is the pivotal key to determining where you will find yourself in the near future. Charles Darwin aptly remarked “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”
Our passion for learning wears down as we proceed further in our lives and careers, focusing on what we know already to strategise our future. This may work, but only temporarily. It is those who grab the opportunity to UNLEARN and RELEARN, who will survive and thrive in this ever-changing world.
To quote Margie Warrell, Forbes Magazine
Much has changed since then, including the rules for getting ahead. To succeed today you must be in a constant state of adaptation – continually unlearning old ‘rules’ and relearning new ones. That requires continually questioning assumptions about how things work, challenging old paradigms, and ‘relearning’ what is now relevant in your job, your industry, your career, and your life.
Learning agility is the name of the game. Where the rules are changing fast, your ability to be agile in letting go of old rules and learning new ones is increasingly important. Learning agility is the key to unlocking your change proficiency and succeeding in an uncertain, unpredictable, and constantly evolving environment, both personally and professionally. There are countless things you may have to unlearn in your job, business, and career, even in the course of the next 12 months.
