We\u2019ve all been there: unfairly expecting perfection out of ourselves even when we know better. And it starts young.<\/p>\n
Just this week, I was having a conversation with my eight year old daughter whose team had won their softball game 17-2. I asked her if she\u2019d ever thought about pitching before, as the team currently played using a machine pitcher. But without even thinking about it, she simply replied, \u201cNo, I\u2019m not good at it\u2014watch,\u201d she proceeded to pick up the ball and try her hand at a new skill: an underhand pitch.<\/p>\n
It seemed ludicrous to me that she\u2019d expect to be good at something without ever having learned the skills needed, practiced those skills, or evaluated her progress over time. When I asked how she expected to be instantly good at underhand pitching, she only shrugged.<\/p>\n
Whether that be trying something new and thinking you\u2019ve failed simply because you didn\u2019t have immediate success or learning about something once and deciding that once was enough to know all you needed to know about a topic, focusing on a one-and-done approach can stunt growth and discourage new learners. Like so much else in life, learning is a process. And as learning professionals, it’s vital that we recognize the necessity of setting our sights on progress instead of perfection.<\/p>\n
Regardless of your age or prior knowledge, learning something new can be intimidating. Focusing on progress<\/em>, however, can help a learner avoid spinning their wheels by becoming too wrapped up in long-term goals or unreachable ideals. With large-scale learning initiatives, it can be daunting and overwhelming to look at the long-term objectives. Imagine you\u2019re at the bottom of a tall staircase. The top of the staircase might seem far away, difficult to reach, insurmountable. However, focusing instead on the stair in front of you makes each step of the way easier to reach, manageable, and possible. And before you know it, that step-by-step incremental progress will bring you to your goal.<\/p>\n As learning professionals, we can help learners focus on progress by breaking up larger initiatives into smaller, achievable benchmarks. But this doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t challenge your learners (or yourself)! By striving for growth and continued improvement or by honing and advancing your current skills, you can get better and better without the impossible pressure of being the best.<\/span><\/p>\n At Maestro, we have two core learning principles that help us focus on progress.<\/p>\n An effective learning initiative should not simply deliver knowledge, but it should also deliver results (i.e. change). Ultimately, the goal of a successful learning initiative is for learners to take what they\u2019ve learned and apply that knowledge every day. Implementing their new knowledge into their work or their lives is a continual progress that creates positive change.<\/p>\n But in order to move forward, you need to know where you\u2019re going. When beginning a learning project, it\u2019s important to think critically about what you\u2019re trying to accomplish and consider the steps needed to get there. Implement strategies that drive results, produce tangible achievements, and create change. This cannot be done by focusing on perfection or a one-and-done lesson. Change is created through a focus on progress and continued growth.<\/p>\n Speaking of, we know that learning is a process. Seldom is someone able to read a book, take a course, or watch a video and then immediately enact a new skill perfectly on their first try. Instead, learning is a cycle\u2014an ongoing process in which learners apply and hone their knowledge over time.<\/p>\nPrinciple 1: Learning exists to create change<\/h3>\n
Principle 2: Learning is a process, not a one time event<\/h3>\n