How to unlearn something.
By dpk262006
@dpk262006 (58679)
Delhi, India
January 18, 2017 10:55pm CST
I was talking to my colleague. We both have recently been transferred to a different organisation, where the work culture is different. We both have learnt many things about functioning of an organisation in our previous organisation. However, we both tried to apply those techniques and methods here, we were indirectly informed that those methods do not exactly work here and we need to adopt somewhat different methods. We both are so used to previous methods that we were finding it difficult to adopt new methods. We came to a conclusion that it is difficult to ''unlearn'' a certain method so as to adopt a modified new method.
What are your views on it. Do you find it difficult to "unlearn" certain things, which you have been doing for ages?
9 people like this
12 responses
@allknowing (153544)
• India
19 Jan 17
Normally in well established organisation there is a thing called orientation where a few days are spent by newcomers who get the grip of how a company works. You can suggest that to your management
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
19 Jan 17
@allknowing - You are right. But here orientation program is not going to help much and moreover we are not new comers, we have spent considerable period of time in our jobs and have gradually learnt so many procedures and techniques.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan 17
@allknowing Are you on my side or on the side of my employer?
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@allknowing (153544)
• India
19 Jan 17
@dpk262006 But this is a new setup for you and the fact that they have told you your methods will not work it is but fair that you are oriented into their method.
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@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
23 Jan 17
We get used to our regular routine, it'll take a little while to adjust to the new techniques!
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
24 Jan 17
It is not a question of routine. We are accustomed to carry out a task in a particular method, but at a new work place, we are told that our existing method is not fine, there should be a different method to execute a task, which makes us feel that we have to unlearn the previous method.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
24 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby Yes, now you got the point. We find it difficult to make our mind understand that how the new method is better than the previous one which is being used for the same purpose.
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@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
24 Jan 17
@dpk262006 Well, the way you carried out the task was fine previously, but now theres a new method?
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@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Jan 17
Oh gosh - Hubby struggles with this at his company 
!!! From his previous place of work, they were VERY systematic and they used a specific computer program to help manage all the incoming/outgoing projects and scheduling. The place he currently works has so much potential to be great, but they fail in not using such a system - so they are very disorganized. Hubby and others have tried to suggest using the systematic computer program that was used and is being used by most of the industry, but the heads of the company refuse to even consider it - saying it is not necessary. But it IS - things would be more efficient and it would only help the company - but they do not see it this way 
. And of course even if such a program were approved, implementing it on the rest of the company would be another issue (people are creatures of habit - they do not like to change - and they will prolong any change as long as they can). I initially hate changes because it does cause extra work and stress for a while . . . but I think I can adapt - eventually - but not everyone is willing.
!!! From his previous place of work, they were VERY systematic and they used a specific computer program to help manage all the incoming/outgoing projects and scheduling. The place he currently works has so much potential to be great, but they fail in not using such a system - so they are very disorganized. Hubby and others have tried to suggest using the systematic computer program that was used and is being used by most of the industry, but the heads of the company refuse to even consider it - saying it is not necessary. But it IS - things would be more efficient and it would only help the company - but they do not see it this way . And of course even if such a program were approved, implementing it on the rest of the company would be another issue (people are creatures of habit - they do not like to change - and they will prolong any change as long as they can). I initially hate changes because it does cause extra work and stress for a while . . . but I think I can adapt - eventually - but not everyone is willing.1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
6 Feb 17
@much2say Yes, if the Head of an organisation is a strong headed person and does not listen to anyone or any suggestion, then it gets difficult to work in such an environment.
Good to hear that you have more or less pleasant weather and rain comes in between.
Winter is still going on here, although the temperature has started rising gradually, specially during day time. Winter will come to an end by the end of February month here on this side of Planet.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan 17
I can relate to position your hubby. If he has worked in a systematic manner and with specific computer programmes, he would find it difficult to adopt new methods, which are not so systematic. Every organisation works according to their own choice. It all depends mostly on the Head of the Organisation. Changing yourself is not easy but a human beings has the capacity to adjust under any circumstances, therefore, he unlearns and gradually adapts himself to the new ways. Hope your hubby will be able to adjust himself in the new circumstances and ways of working.
How are you doing? How is weather? Have a nice day! 
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@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Feb 17
@dpk262006 That is the problem, it all depends on the Head of the Organization . . . sometimes they have a hard head and refuse to see the benefits of other ideas. He continues to adjust, but can see the company continues to become more and more disorganized - at some point, if not already, it will be at the point of no return. So we shall see!!
We are good! We have had a balance of rainy days and sunny days this winter . . . that's pretty good for us considering we had been in a dry drought for so long. Yesterday was sunny - today was a bit gray but we are expected to have rain tomorrow. How is it on your side of the world?
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@psanasangma (7910)
• India
20 Jan 17
Yes its very true!! When you are adopted to old practice in previous organisation, we are tend to stick. Same thing happen with me ... It takes times to learn their office administrative and field operation, and its comes more difficult when you are in between ....
if reporting manager is dynamic then its well and good for new comer
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan 17
It causes a problem if one has to unlearn and learn again about the same thing/issue. However, one has no option but to adopt it.
What do you mean by if Reporting manager is dynamic?
@psanasangma (7910)
• India
23 Jan 17
@dpk262006
i mean to say... if they allow your earlier in the present one not to bring in fully but to apply
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
19 Jan 17
For executing a task, you have learnt a certain method, you have been following it for years. However, now you are told to adopt a different method for executing the same task, so you need to unlearn yourself to adopt the new technique, else there will be conflict in mind.
1 person likes this
@magallon (19279)
• Philippines
19 Jan 17
@dpk262006 Is it totally different from the old technique?
Because if it is, then you really have to unlearn the old.
But if it is similar to the old then some of those techniques could be use in learning the new one.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
19 Jan 17
@magallon It is not totally different from old technique but we need to make ourselves understand that whatever we have learnt so far, we have to unlearn those techniques to adopt the new one. To unlearn a technique is not an easy task because procedures get stored in your sub conscious mind and you work accordingly.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan 17
It is difficult task indeed but someone one has to do it, if one has to survive.
How are you doing?
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@Kandae11 (57233)
•
23 Jan 17
@dpk262006 A few ups and downs - but I will survive
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
24 Jan 17
@Kandae11 I am hoping that and praying that there should be more ups than downs in your life. 
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@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
19 Jan 17
I am not sure if the brain is set up to retain everything or it gets over-written by new stuff.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan 17
Hard disc of our memory has limited capacity. If it is already packed to capacity, it is difficult to adjust new methods/things, without off loading the previous one.
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Jan 17
Yep, I find I have to "overlearn" the new thing, whatever it is. It applies to business climates, bad habits on guitar, and a lot of other things. And "spontaneous recovery" makes unlearning even harder. If you lose an old habit, it can come back quickly.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
20 Jan 17
You got the crux of the discussion.. You have pointed out rightly that to overlearn a new thing is not an easy job and we need to consciously condition our mind that we have to unlearn the previous method/technique and have to start afresh.
. You have pointed out rightly that to overlearn a new thing is not an easy job and we need to consciously condition our mind that we have to unlearn the previous method/technique and have to start afresh.
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
20 Jan 17
Of course young children could learn anything new. As far as your learning is concerned, you would have learnt entirely new things, which you did not know earlier. However, once you have learnt a procedure for something and you are asked to adopt a new method for the the same thing, you will have to unlearn the previous one, which is not easy.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan 17
Yes, you are right. It is not easy to unlearn our old methods, which we have learnt over the years for doing the same thing. I agree with you that if one has to learn new thing, which could be termed as on improvement on old ways, then there is no harm learning it. Yes, most of us do not easily like change, we are tuned to a fixed ways of working.
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@shaynas (5486)
• India
19 Jan 17
Yes, it is difficult for me to unlearn things. As sometime I become so comfortable doing something that i do not want to come out of that comfort zone, and try a new way. But when there is no escape, I learn the new way too
Learning is good, why unlearn?
Learning is good, why unlearn?1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan 17
None of us want to come out of our comfort zone. We are happy to do the things the way we want or we have been taught to do over the years. I do not mind learning anything entirely new. However, if you are asked to apply a new method for the same thing, which was being done with an older method, then you need to forget the older method and adopt the new method, which sometimes becomes difficult.
. We are happy to do the things the way we want or we have been taught to do over the years. I do not mind learning anything entirely new. However, if you are asked to apply a new method for the same thing, which was being done with an older method, then you need to forget the older method and adopt the new method, which sometimes becomes difficult.1 person likes this
@spaceseed (2843)
• India
19 Jan 17
Best way is to get busy..and keep mind occupied in things you want to learn
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
20 Jan 17
We are talking about how to unlearn things, which we have already learnt. New methods in place of old methods (which are intended for same purpose) are not easy to replace.
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@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
23 Jan 17
@spaceseed Yes, if we have to survive, we will have to unlearn.
@spaceseed (2843)
• India
20 Jan 17
simply do with new more fruitfull ones ......no other way
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