Learning After the Learning – Closing the Knowing- Doing Gap

You’ve been there. The workshop or learning experience ends – and it was wonderful. You have some new ideas and skills and have some motivation and interest in applying them and are ready to go. Even if the workshop was average, you likely leave with an idea you would like to try when you get back to work. Then you get back to work and despite your good intentions, the real work and real life re-emerges. Welcome to the knowing-doing gap.

The Knowing-Doing Gap

In short, the knowing-doing gap describes the time when you know/are aware of new approaches and ideas, but don’t apply them. We can feel guilty about not closing this gap (I know I have), but understanding why it happens is a better strategy than “I should have done it differently.”

There are (at least) four big reasons that we don’t close this gap. Understanding them is the first step to overcoming those tendencies and having a better chance of applying the new skills you have learned.

• Priorities win. Doing something a new way will take effort and likely more time (at first). When we are in our real world of work, tasks are flying at us and we don’t see that we have the time to do the new thing, even if we want to.
• Habit prevails. Habits and routines are easy and effortless. So, by the time we see the situation to apply the new idea or skill, our habits and existing approaches have already kicked in.
• Memory fades. What seems so logical and clear in the workshop, becomes less clear with time. And the longer we wait to try the new idea, the less clear it becomes.
• Confidence wanes. That lack of clarity also impacts our confidence in our ability to successfully use the new skill. We build confidence by trying, but if we don’t try quickly, we can easily talk ourselves out of trying.

Chances are you recognize one or all these outcomes. Rather than bemoaning them as facts, let’s look at four things you can do to overcome or override these facts.

Closing the Gap

Here are four things you can do to get more real and lasting value out of any learning experience you participate in or experience.

• Change your goal. Often, we arrive at a learning event with a goal to “learn something” or “get tips on x.” Those are understandable, but more effective would be something like: “I want to apply three things from this workshop when I get back to work.”
• Move the end line. When application becomes your goal, then the workshop isn’t over when class is dismissed. Reframe your end line as when you have achieved your goal of applying what you learned.
• Plan differently. Once you have moved your end line, your plan should become more actionable and immediate. Consider specific focused actionable questions like: “What is the one thing I will do or try tomorrow?”
• Have a partner. As we have already explored, the barriers to applying something new are many. One of the best ways to beat those barriers is to have a learning partner. Find someone to share what you learned and your action steps. Ask them to help you be accountable and to be your peer coach as you work to build your new skills. While anyone can help, someone who was in the same learning experience will likely be the most helpful, supportive and valuable.

If you do these four things, you will improve your chances of overcoming the knowing-doing gap and making real progress on improving your skills and results. And isn’t that why you attended the workshop or learning event in the first place?

Where to Start

The knowing-doing gap applies to this article too. Right now (hopefully) you are experiencing that same feeling as when you leave the workshop or learning experience. You want to try these new ideas! If you have a workshop on your calendar, you are good to go. Re-read this article the day it begins.

But if you don’t have a learning experience on your calendar, when will you have the chance to try?

Let me propose a solution for you.

Virtual LeaderCon is a 2.5 day free-to-attend virtual & interactive learning experience where you can learn from top thought leaders and gain ideas from them from both the leadership and personal development prospective. I challenge you to three things:

1. Look at the agenda, I’m betting you will find at least one session that will help you reach your goals.
2. Register - and remember it is free.
3. Invite a friend. If you want to follow the suggestions above, a partner who has the context and perspective you have will be the most powerful learning partner.