Unlearning, synonymous with 'Transformation', 'Innovation', 'Challenge', 'Creativity' is at its heart, an open mindset. The good news is you can learn it! Creativity is not for a select few. We are all intrinsically creative. Asking the right questions. Being open. If a traditional way can't be found, find a new way, a better way.

As new technologies emerge, the democratization of data and customer demands rise, firms that quickly deliver goods, services, and experiences to market are rewarded. A cultural Shift, where consumers are no longer loyal to brands. How do you stay innovative? Moreover, what are the challenges involved? How does one reinvent, grow and think big? However, today, while most companies "talk" innovation, their "walk" doesn't add up. Given the complexity and frugal culture of organizations, it’s often hard to embrace change and truly kick-start or accelerate new ideas. On the other hand, the idea of "Learning organizations" is floating around. However, the problem isn’t learning: it’s unlearning. To adopt the unique paradigm of "value creation and innovation," we must strive to unlearn and break past the traditional ones.

I studied an engineering module called "requirements engineering" during Masters degree in Innovation at Cranfield University, UK. "I scored 80", said the engineer haughtily and asked me how I did. I responded, "81" with a smirk.

Okay, the point here is not who got 'more' the engineer or the designer?

It's what I had learned or 'Unlearned'. One of my best friends is a product engineer. We argue who is the nerd and who is creative. The engineer doesn't believe he's creative and the designer doesn't think she can 'engineer'. I tell this story so we can come out of the silos of disciplines. We were asked to innovate a razor, and we did that through the process of extrapolating 'good requirements', we learned various methodologies from lifestyle mapping, interviews, researching 100 methods to uncover insights, pain points and listing 'needs'. After toiling away, my professor asked me "Do you think it's a reliable way to innovate the product?"

Wait. What? Shock, horror, disbelief. Did I not pay a good amount of pounds to learn how to 'engineer' this product? I'll quote Elsa.

I had to learn to "LET IT GO."

On the one hand, I learned new methods, theories, and engineering modules. Now I am challenged to unlearn the very information I just learned? I quickly developed my own opinion and uncovered insights in a whole new way. I realized that requirements engineering was sometimes the antithesis to innovation. I learned that interviewing people and asking them what they wanted and how to make the product better wasn't the best way to uncover pain points. I had to adopt an alternative mental model. Ingrained in the very core of my being now, is asking questions. In the end, using bio-mimicry(inspired by animal scales), I created a glove instead of a razor.

Throughout our lives were taught many lessons and built our lives, our careers and our behaviors around them. Not everyone has the courage to question the world, to challenge the norms, to build new ways to do things. Similarly in business, some of these paradigms are old and ineffective.

Part of the Problem with Learning Is Unlearning.

Lego is designed to unlock imagination not conform to the picture on the box. We must question how we think about learning. Are we afraid to admit that the existing model is growing outdated and ineffective? In this era of digital transformation and change, we need to be conscious of our mental models. Even on social media, the so-called "personalized content" we get fed today is based on our past 'likes' and machine learning algorithms. Good content is being served with a diverse set of viewpoints - the "fodder" you need to think outside your sphere. However, we need to unlearn these models and replace them with exponential models.

The 5 Keys to Unlearning:

1. Let it Go.

Admit that the old mental model is no longer useful. Be curious. Learn to challenge traditional methodologies. I had to adopt an alternative mental model. Being curious - WHAT IF? HOW MIGHT WE? WHY?

2. Define-redefine the problem. Ask the right questions.

Defining and Re-defining the problem. Identifying the problem is the first step toward finding a solution. Your goal should be to identify challenges, uncover opportunities, and attempting to solve a problem. Pivoting is a shift from the current strategic direction. Don't be afraid to go back and start over. If your not listening to understand, you've lost the value your people ('assets')can offer your business.

3. Identifying Blind Spots.

Come out of Silos. Be open and look outside the problem area. Be open to diverse view points, collaborate with other disciplines. @jeffboss9 "If you work in a silo you think in a silo". If your designing a car, get inspiration from boats, if you're designing a chair, get inspiration from Lego blocks.

4. Practice Observation. Observe your audience.

Never jump to conclusions. Customers have latent needs. Invest in the practice of observing. What I unlearned from requirements elicitation is that, customers will, more or less, tell you only that they want what you already got...in a different color, spiffed up a bit, with this feature or that. Don't reverse-engineer. In the sea of sameness, we need to lead the customer to places he/she did not wish to venture.

5. Don't follow the convention.

Listen but don't follow. Have courage. Don't be a dumb sheep. Don't be an elephant. Elephants never forget. Question the methodology and find a new insight. Bosses appreciate value creation. Everything you do at your job matters only if you're making it better. Try to solve a problem. If a traditional way can't be found, try a new way, a better way.

Be the difference.





I would love to hear your thoughts, as we continually develop business models for new ventures and address digital transformation.



