Ever wish you could develop a new skill faster than anyone else?
Imagine if you could reduce the amount of time you spend teaching to a fraction of what others need. This isn’t just a dream – meta-learning is a powerful approach and it is basically learning how to learn. It can greatly accelerate your learning process and change your life. Here are six key principles from the world’s fastest learners to help you get started.
1. Get a quick win
One of the most important steps to learn faster is to win faster. These early successes boost your motivation and set a positive tone for your learning journey. Set targets you can actually hit now to start gaining momentum.
2. Select the appropriate teacher or method.
Not all teachers and methods are created equal. When you learn something new, it seems logical to turn to the top expert in the industry. But sometimes the best teachers are those who have just mastered the skill because they remember the tricks and shortcuts best. For example, instead of following the traditional path that would take a decade while learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Kit Dale changed his teaching schedule, found a mentor and became a black belt in four years. The same principle applies to any skill – find a teacher or method that matches your learning style and goals.
3. Focus on key leverage points
Instead of overwhelming every aspect of a new skill, identify tasks that will achieve 80% of the results. This is known as the Pareto principle. For example, focusing on the 100 most frequent words when learning Spanish can improve your fluency by up to 50%. Another example is seeing patterns in language. With these points, you can effectively improve and avoid the frustration of being overwhelmed.
4. Tighten the feedback
The sooner and more frequently you receive feedback, the faster and more effective you can make changes. Imagine that two people are learning to meditate: one is using advanced online guidance for 20 minutes a day, while the other is using a device that provides instant feedback on their brain waves. Maybe latter he will improve much faster. In language learning, when you are involved in real-life situations you have to use the language – like speaking Spanish in Mexico – for immediate feedback that speeds up your learning.
5. Embrace the Plateau
Learning is not always an easy and upward path. It’s important to push through this plateau before reverting to old habits or breaking them. If you’re trying something new initial results may suffer. However, perseverance and a willingness to innovate and improve can lead to long-term success. This principle applies to personal growth and relationships – sometimes short-term disadvantages must be endured in order to gain long-term gains.
