LISTENING TO LEARN

 

BUILDING BETTER HABITS

Very attentive beautiful children listening to learning /Photo Courtesy /Tima Miroshnichenko

Simple Instructions

Simple instructions are meant to help people make progress. Instruction is supposed to guide someone. To help this person solve a problem or get something done. Whether that something is getting to a desired destination or completing a task successfully. In their typical form that is at least, the purpose of simple instructions. And these instructions are found almost everywhere. At home. School. Workplace. And in everyday living activities. The people whose instructions are directed to are supposed to listen. They are supposed to listen in order to understand. The listening part is very important. It is only after someone understands what is expected that he or she can accomplish the task successfully. Understanding begins with effective listening skills. You listen to capture the message.

The message in the instructions is crucial. It is important because that is where knowledge is obtained. The knowledge to move from one point to the next is in the message. And learning the message requires active listening skills. Active listening is about paying attention to what is being said. You pay attention not because you are supposed to act. You pay attention to learn what is in the message. And then use that knowledge to take action. The instructions are supposed to guide you to the right action. And people only complete the right action by listening to initial instructions carefully. That is our biggest job as normal human beings. To learn from things that are supposed to help us make progress. Instructions in their typical sense are simple. To follow specific directions to reach a desired result.

That at least is what all instructors put into consideration. Clarity and simplicity. The instructions must be clear to be understood. And for instructions to be clear.  They must also be simple. Steps that people can implement easily. Because the objective is to get things done. Instructors envision consumers of their instruction as ordinary members of society. People who come across as right thinking members. A right thinking member of society is capable of understanding simple instructions. The person who is supposed to take instructions in most occasions, does not know how to do a certain exercise or task. This individual needs help to succeed. And that is how instructions come into play. To direct the individual on the next steps to get the exercise done. Instructions guide people to follow certain consecutive steps to get things done in the right way.

An experienced instructor helping learners /Photo Courtesy /Pixel

That is how normal people learn. By following simple instructions. By carrying out that task of reading or listening to an instructor. People learn. In fact, this is an effective way of learning. You listen then you implement. Getting to the right results means you must first understand. It is not just about listening. It is also about understanding and learning from the instructions. Then doing the right action follows. Based on this format, it means that you can only get the exercise right by learning from simple instructions. And in circumstances where people don’t learn. Nothing gets done in the right way. This is when errors occur. People err because they don’t pay enough attention to learn and implement. Perhaps, they are impatient or even indifferent with instructions. When people are more about results than learning. Mistakes happen. People want the outcome without following the right steps.

Who Is Listening to Learning?

And modern society has a listening problem. The number of people who are interested in active listening is dwindling. People are in a rush. They want to get to their destinations using the shortest route they can find. However, no one is willing to explain why they are in a rush. Yet, almost everyone is in a rush. People are hurrying to do things that don’t help them. People want to do what everyone else is doing. They are rushing to do what everyone else is doing without asking why. As long as, that thing is popular. And a few people have succeeded at it. Everyone wants to do that activity. People in modern society no longer care that they are different people. Competition has a new meaning. And I know you also don’t want to be left behind. You want to be in the latest trends. Things that are popular. Stuff that everyone is talking about. That is where everyone wants to be.

People want these things without paying the price. They want to arrive before they begin. And while their mind is focused more on arriving. They are missing the most important things that will sustain them at their respective destinations. When you fail to follow all instructions. You won’t know what to do next when you arrive. And the idea of doing what everyone else is doing will become boring very quickly. What happens when everyone else stops doing what they are doing? One obvious reality will be you not having raw materials to get things done. The strategy is unsustainable. Because you are not thinking for yourself. You are waiting on other people to think for you. And when other people can’t think anymore. You will get lost. Yet from the beginning, you had all the resources you needed to succeed. But you chose short cut.

A beautiful excited woman following simple instructions /Photo/ TSquared Lab

You chose the easy way out because you thought instructions are not important. Perhaps, because you have been on that road before. You know what instructions are meant for. However, your compliance level is too low. Your non-compliance has compromised a beautiful journey. There was so much that you would have learnt.  If only, you stuck with the original plan. If you had followed all those simple instructions step by step. You would not be stranded. You would have gotten to the right destination. And at the same time, found out what needs to be done next. The initial instructions had a growth pathway. They were meant to impart long-term knowledge. Knowledge that you will use for a lifetime. That is what instructions are meant for from the beginning. They are long-term. Sustainable. And progressive. They lead you to the next path by following each one of them.

However, modern society has a lot of tired people. People that don’t want to think long-term. We have people that are excited about the results. But they are too impatient to do the right work. They want the next big thing without preparation. If you keep ignoring simple instructions. You will not have the next big thing. The next big thing is built by thinkers and leaders. And being a leader does not happen by itself. You learn to lead. To solve problems. And to develop a vision that amount to a big thing. All these things begin with learning. And learning is in simple instructions. That is where your next big thing is. Listening to instructions. And getting the message in the instructions. That is what the job is all about. Doing the right actions that get you moving and navigating different things in the journey. It is only in following instructions that you will learn how complex or simple a task is.

Following simple instructions will also tell you, whether you are the right person for the task. That is the work of instructions. To help you see reality. To help you understand that reaching a desired outcome is not that simple. A lot of things happen on the way. And all those challenges that people encounter on the task are supposed to help you. By sticking with the instructions, you will understand that things are not smooth. You will have to work hard. You need to think better. If you must arrive. You will have to learn patience. Don’t get in the rush. You are not everyone. And when you stick with simple instructions enough times. You will learn that there is nothing you are rushing for. Where you are, is the right place at the moment. You are in the right place with simple instructions. Learn what you don’t know first.

When you get the knowledge. You will see your next move. However, at the moment. Stick with what is meant to help you make progress. If you are in school, remain in school. If you are a beginner at work, be content with being a beginner. Don’t rush to C-suite. You are not ready. Don’t fight with those who are helping you. Listen to simple instructions. Learn from the simple instructions. And begin to implement one instruction after the other. One at a time. This way, you will avoid a lot of mistakes. You will make real progress. Progress that will get you to things that you need. And the things you need are in the things you don’t want to do. Start listening. Start understanding. Get some knowledge before you leap. Knowledge will land you in the right place. The world has endless opportunities. But you have to be the right person to see opportunities. Your only task right now is to ask if you are the right person.