Remember when you swore by your Blackberry because of its “superior” keyboard? Or when Blockbuster turned down a little startup called Netflix? (Oops.) These are prime examples of what happens when businesses – and the people in them – fail to unlearn outdated skills, processes, and ways of thinking. This is where unlearning skills becomes crucial.
Unlearning is the process of letting go of knowledge, habits, or mindsets that no longer serve you, making room for new, more relevant skills. While learning helps us grow, unlearning prevents us from getting stuck in outdated ways that hold us back.
Businesses often focus on upskilling, but what about downskilling – or, more accurately, ditching the skills and habits that are now doing more harm than good? In a world where technology evolves faster than our morning coffee cools down, the ability to unlearn is just as critical as learning something new.
The Parable of the Overflowing Cup
A wise master once invited a student for tea. The student, eager to impress, began boasting about all he had learned. The master simply smiled and poured tea into the student’s cup. He kept pouring until the tea overflowed, spilling onto the table and the student’s lap.
“Why did you do that?” the student cried.
“You are like this cup,” said the master. “So full of what you already know that there is no room for anything new. To learn, you must first empty your cup.”
This is the essences of unlearning: making space for new knowledge by letting go of what no longer serves us.
The Power of Unlearning: A Real-Life Example
Imagine being a veteran pilot who has flown traditional cockpit aircraft for decades, only to be handed the controls of a modern, digitilised plane. That’s exactly what happened to Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. When his US Airways flight struck a flock of geese, both engines failed. His instincts, honed through years of training, told him to look for a runway. But instead, he unlearned conventional wisdom and relied on newer principles of situational awareness. The result? A successful emergency landing on the Hudson River that saved 155 lives.
That’s the power of unlearning outdated responses and adapting in the moment.
Businesses That Have Mastered the Art of Unlearning
Some of the world’s most successful companies have embraced unlearning and thrived because of it:
- Microsoft: Once famous for its fiercely competitive, “Windows-or-nothing” approach, Microsoft unlearned its old, monopolistic mindset. Under Satya Nadella, the company pivoted to collaboration by partnering with former rivals like Apple, Linux, and Google. The result? Microsoft’s stock value soared by over 700% since 2014.
- Netflix: Originally a DVD rental business, Netflix had to unlearn its physical distribution model. Instead of clinging to an outdated way of doing business (Ahem, Blockbuster), it transformed itself into a digital streaming giant, leading the entire entertainment industry.
- Adobe: Adobe ditched its one-time software purchase model in favour of a subscription-based cloud service. Many predicted failure. Instead, revenue tripled, and Adobe became the industry standard.
What Happens if We Refuse to Unlearn?
Holding onto outdated knowledge is like insisting on using. flip phone in 2024 – technically, it still works, but you’ll miss out on everything new, efficient, and game-changing.
For businesses, refusing to unlearn leads to:
- Stagnation: Companies that refuse to change risk falling behind competitors.
- Inefficiency: Employees waste time and resources using outdated tools and methods.
- Poor decision-making: Holding onto old assumptions can blind businesses to new opportunities.
- Decreased employee morale: If people aren’t encouraged to unlearn and grow, frustration sets in.
How DCo Helps Businesses Unlearn (and Thrive!)
At DCo, we help businesses not only gain new skills but also shed outdated ones that are holding them back. Think of us as your corporate Marie Kondo – helping you declutter outdated processes and replace them with modern, more effective strategies.
Here’s how we do it:
- Tailored training programmes that help employees unlearn efficient practices and adopt cutting-edge skills.
- Workshops and coaching designed to challenge outdated mindsets and encourage innovative thinking.
- Bespoke digital transformation support to help businesses transition away from old-school methods and embrace the future.
Don’t let outdated skills hold your business back. Contact DCo today for tailored, bespoke training packages that help your team unlearn, relearn, and thrive!
