Leadership Tip

How to overcome a fear of learning

Do you struggle to get started with learning a new skill? Skill development is a top priority for 83% of our subscribers. As vital as it is to gain new skills, what happens when you have a fear of learning? Grappling with the unfamiliar can be anxiety-provoking, so here are tips to cope without giving up.

  1. To engage in learning for learning’s sake, we should not put pressure on ourselves with audacious goals. Instead, start small.
     
  2. To learn from mistakes, we should not mindlessly repeat the same actions over and over. Instead, we want to be more focused and analytical by reflecting on what we did right and what we did wrong. Psychologists call this “deliberate practice”.
     
  3. We should make sure our practice is varied, rather than doing the exact same thing again and again. Mixing up how we practise our new behaviour forces the learned patterns in our brains to become more flexible, allowing us to cope better when new and unexpected challenges arise.
     
  4. We should try our best to learn from other novices, rather than comparing ourselves solely with experts. It also helps to teach the skills we are learning to other novices. This is because we learn best when we know we have to pass the knowledge on.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.


For more tips...
on leadership and management good practice, subscribe to a Minute with Montgomery on 10TV.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Unlock your potential

Whether face to face, or over the telephone, we can develop your leadership skills, support you in making important decisions, and help you reach your potential.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 actions for effective communication

High-quality communication is an essential element in business and organisational performance. Effective communication relies on engaging with people, having a commitment to building strong and productive relationships and realising that we communicate... read more

10 actions for advancing your career

Standing out at work isn’t about wearing a flashy hat - though, that could help. The more effective way to make an impact is by developing the skills that will get you noticed. Here are 10 strategies for advancing your career: Make skills... read more

10 actions for achieving best performance

Success does not begin with radically changing the way you work or acquiring new skills: the first step is to take what you already do to the highest level.  However trivial it may seem, if you can do a task more smartly than you did before, and... read more

Leadership Tips

How to lead when the ground shifts beneath you

Reform UK’s rise was no minor tremor: 677 councillors. Control of 10 councils. A political earthquake. What looked fringe became frontline - fast. And it happened because people felt unheard, underestimated, and disillusioned with the status quo.... read more

How to apply April Theory to reignite your goals

January isn’t always the best time to reset - April might be. April Theory, a trend that’s gained traction on TikTok, reframes spring as the real new year. It makes sense: the days are longer, energy is rising, and motivation starts to thaw. If... read more

How to be successful

Leadership isn’t just about vision and charisma - it’s about habits, mindset, and how you show up every day. Whether you’re leading a team, a project, or simply yourself, success leaves clues. Here are 10 timeless essentials that drive success - not just... read more