The art of learning, unlearning, and relearning.
Food for thought. What if the most valuable skill in the 21st century isn’t one’s technical expertise or intelligence? What if, instead, it is the ability to adapt quickly. In a world that’s rapidly evolving, is this the key to long-term survival and success? Let’s face it, the ability to adapt is no longer a luxury; it is an absolute necessity.
Adapt or die.
Remember the chaos in 2020 COVID-19 put the entire world on hold, forcing us to adapt to a “new normal”? Businesses that couldn’t handle the pressure, crumbled while some not just survived, but thrived. What sets these organizations apart from the rest? What gave them such resilience in such trying times? It definitely wasn’t simply their deeper financial resources or technological prowess. Rather, it was the organization’s ability to adapt, pivot, and embrace the change.
Let me begin with the words of Alvin Toffler, an American writer and futurist. He said that, “The illiterate of the 21st century are not those that cannot read nor write, but are those that cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Focus on those 3 words once again — LEARN, UNLEARN, and RELEARN. In short, this is our ability to adapt to our environment, be flexible, and open ourselves up to relearning new skills. When the pandemic shut the world down, many lost their jobs pushing them to either learn new and relevant skills or perish. The same holds true for many companies around the world. Those that survived were those that found ways to remain relevant and adapt to the changing environment. For example, there were schools that were able to effectively shift to online learning, equipping their teachers, students, and parents with what they need to recreate a good learning environment. There were some that couldn’t adapt, suffered losses in enrollment, and eventually closed down. In January 2023, the Department of Education reported that more than 1,600 private schools in the Philippines were shut down due mainly to constraints brought about by COVID-19.
Companies that were able to equip their employees to work from home and resume operations were also able to survive. Those that weren’t able to pivot, suffered. The Philippines was not a digital economy yet prior to the pandemic, however, when the lockdowns kicked in, the masses were forced to adapt and use digital means of commerce instead. E-wallets such as Gcash and Maya became popular, replacing the usage of physical cash to a country whose larger populations don’t even have bank accounts.
According to the Future of Jobs Report 2023 of the World Economic Forum, the top skills of 2023 were categorized under cognitive skills, self-efficacy, management skills, technology skills, and the ability to work with others. According to the same report by the World Economic Forum, employers in 2023 valued these very same skills.
Analytical Thinking
Creative Thinking
Resilience, flexibility, and agility
Motivation and self-awareness
Curiosity and lifelong learning
Technological literacy
Dependability and attention to detail
Empathy and active listening
Leadership and social influence
Quality control
These skills are the skills that don’t become obsolete, otherwise known as timeless skills or the 21st century skills, crucial for individuals and organizations to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world.
What does it mean to unlearn?
It’s always easy to say that learning should remain constant, that we, in order to grow, should always be on the path of learning. However, how does one really unlearn? Do you forget what you think you know to make space for new and update knowledge?
Simple answer, NO. Think of this as an OS update for your smartphone. It replaces the old system with new and better features. This may require you to undergo a cycle of getting used to how these changes affect the UI/UX.
That’s the same with unlearning. You simply replace your skillset with updated ones. An engineer that finished their degree in 2005, for example, may be used to a certain set of programming languages for a microcontroller. But in 2024, there are a ton of new programming languages that are better, more efficient, and easier to use. Bottomline, don’t allow yourself to become obsolete with an outdated skillset.
Easier said than done, yes. Start by embracing a growth mindset, not a fixed one. Identify what hinders you from unlearning such as the fear of the unknown, denial, failure, and cognitive dissonance. It’s perfectly natural to feel anxious or uncertain when faced with the prospect of change of your beliefs or behaviors making it difficult to let go of outdated systems, information, or habits. Thus, it is important to focus your thoughts on what potential benefits unlearning will have and that change is a natural part of one’s growth and development.
Humility required.
Alright, we’ve learned how to unlearn, now it’s time to relearn. First of, the humility to realize that we all have something new to learn is important. Hubris is your enemy here. It shall be the wall upon which learning slams against. Step one, shed the ego. Realize that you don’t know everything yet. In fact, if you find yourself to be the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Aim to be around people you can learn from, to be your mentor, to be your Obi Wan Kenobi.
How do we stay relevant in an ever changing future? Update your skills. Learn the fundamentals, build great habits. Unlearn those things that are no longer relevant and necessary. Relearn as much and as often as you need to. That way, if the world decides to throw us another curveball, you, your team, or your organization will be future-proofed.
