I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the keys to successful transfer of learning, in the context of ‘what are the key elements of our approach that produce great results?’ and ‘how can others use our experience to benefit their work or business?’
Do you remember the Slinky? Wikipedia describes it as “a helix-shaped toy that can travel down stairs end-over-end as it stretches and re-forms itself with the aid of gravity and its own momentum.”
The Slinky is a good analogy for the essence of successful transfer of learning, since it’s a perfect expression of the balance between flexibility and structure. And just as the Slinky moves under its own power once it establishes momentum, we can also get to the stage where the learning, after some quick wins and adjustments, creates its own momentum and keeps moving forward unaided.
The higher the individual’s level of ownership of change, the higher the level of change achievable. Here’s where we need flexibility on the part of the manager, coach or learning specialist. They need to mould and flex with the individual’s ideas, beliefs and values so they can help foster his or her ownership of the process.
At the same time they also need to add structure to the process, clearly sign-posting what needs to be achieved, how the conversation will run and, most importantly, creating a framework in which the individual can be held accountable for creating the change. The structure establishes agreed actions and follow through by both parties so those actions can be reviewed and evaluated. Do you remember the Slinky?
I’ve met many coaches and managers who are very strong on structure. I’ve also met plenty for whom flexibility is their strong suit. But unless we can bring structure and flexibility together, we’re unlikely to achieve effective transfer of learning.
Remember the lesson we can learn from the humble Slinky – flexibility plus structure equals positive momentum.
All Vivat team members keep a Slinky on their desks to help us the remember the secret to effective transfer of learning.
PS – Some Slinky facts for the record. It was invented 60 years ago in Pennsylvania, US. 300 million units have been sold. In addition to being an award winning design, it’s also been used in wartime as a radio antenna and in physics experiments with NASA. But of course, we’d argue its most important quality is being a metaphor for transfer of learning!