When you are honest with yourself, do you like learning?
It’s easy to reflexively answer, of course I do. I have never met a learning professional who’s first answer isn’t, “Yes of course I do.”
Then I give them an example like, “What about the person that didn’t believe in COVID-19, didn’t wear a mask, and learned they were wrong the hard way?”
OK, maybe that’s too severe. Let’s go simpler. Do children like potty training, something as simple as tying their shoes, or learning the frying pan on the stove is hot?
According to a 2017 survey 85% of workers hate their jobs, but they’d rather work than go to a training (I believe I originally heard that from Cara North, but it might have been Tim Slade). Most of those people would say they like learning. Their actions belie that. Real learning is often painful, and uncomfortable.
“Change management” is a huge part of management in today’s world, but the reality is that learning creates change. The more critical the learning the bigger the change.
I strongly believe almost everyone loves having learned something. I remain unconvinced that anyone actually enjoys the painful process of really learning something.
Go ahead, convince me that you like learning MORE than you like HAVING LEARNED?
