Keeping up in a fast-changing workplace is about learning new things. And you need to know how to learn anything faster.
Jobs of tomorrow aren't going to be the same as yesterday's jobs. In fact, 60% of job titles in 2018 did not exist in 1940, according to an academic paper co-authored by MIT economist David Autor. And with new industries like AI popping up, it's clear there will be many more different job titles in 2030 and 2040 than today.
Learning, though, is often mysterious, says Scott Young, author of the books "Get Better at Anything" and "Ultralearning." Sometimes, people improve with little effort. Other times, it's a slog.
"If you want to accomplish more and stand apart from everyone else, you need to become an ultralearner," Young writes in "Ultralearning."
Good News To Learn Anything Faster
There are ways to learn anything faster.
"We're living in a world where knowledge is exploding exponentially," Young told Investor's Business Daily. "The amount of skills that are coming up, that are completely new and that we didn't even hear of five or 10 years ago, are coming into play. That means even if we weren't super-keen lifelong learners, we're kind of forced into it. Many people are going to be re-skilling."
There are three key ingredients, says Young, for getting better at anything. He breaks it down into three factors that he refers to as See, Do, and Feedback in his new book, "Get Better at Anything."
'See' To Learn Anything Faster
Watching someone exceptionally good at what they do is a key first step. "We learn better when we're able to emulate and understand the best practices of other people," said Young.
The challenge at work, though, is that it's not always clear how people who perform the work actually do it, says Young. And that leads to frustration and trial-and-error.
People who are good at a task don't really spend a lot of time thinking about the step-by-step process they use to excel. "The classic example is trying to explain tying your shoes to your kindergartner," said Young. "That can actually require some thought because you do it automatically."
That's where so-called "content task analysis" comes in. In short, you must learn from someone who can explain step by step how to master a skill. If you want to be a stock investor, for example, pick the brains of a successful stock picker to learn their secrets for spotting a winning stock.
What To Do To Learn Anything Faster
Learning is also about doing. Practice is good. Reinforcement is good, too.
"Practice is essential to progress, and mastery requires practice," said Young. But practice doesn't always make perfect. How many people spend hundreds of hours playing tennis, for example, without learning the proper technique to hit a topspin forehand or a booming serve?
A better way of learning is to learn from people who know the proper way to do what you're trying to learn.
Young reveals the successful learning strategies used by successful Jeopardy contestant Roger Craig. Since Craig was competing on a show that can ask any question on any subject, Young noted that Craig "decided to be brutally analytical about how he acquired knowledge."
The contestant downloaded tens of thousands of Jeopardy! questions and answers and studied on his own. He used data visualizations to expose his strengths and weaknesses. He identified subject matters he was weak on and did more study on those topics. Craig realized the questions were meant to entertain viewers, so he focused on best-known trivia examples, rather than obscure facts. He used space repetition software that instructed him on the optimal time to review topics to boost retention.
Space Out The Learning
Often, it makes more sense to space out your practice or study intervals. Cramming isn't the best way to retain information in the long run.
The so-called "spacing effect" works better.
"You can study the same thing 10 times in a row, or you can study it once per day over 10 days. It's the latter study habit that will result in longer, more durable memories," said Young. "If you're trying to learn a skill for the long run, it's important to space the learning out."
Get Feedback To Learn Anything Faster
Getting reliable feedback is important, Young says. "Progress requires constant adjustment," he said.
The key to helpful feedback isn't just about gaining confidence, but rather making sure it leads to greater competency, according to Young.
And just because you are learning from someone with experience in the subject matter you're trying to master, don't assume that person has the expertise to teach you what you need to know, adds Young. This is particularly relevant in learning how to make judgment decisions, such as whether to hire or promote someone or invest in a new product or business, adds Young.
Stop Multitasking
One more thing: learning something while you're multitasking will get in the way of mastering something new.
"Multitasking is really bad for learning," said Young. "You're actually just switching your attention quickly between two different things. Attention is the most valuable resource, and if you're distracted in any way, it's going to really slow down your learning."
