The Journal #7
Andragogy. Night Cap. CCC. Fog.
01. SELF DEVELOPMENT - Joe Gaunt
Andragogy (eh?)
Andragogy is the formal name for self directed adult learning. Not the most catchy I have to say.
I have always been passionate about learning and helping people learn. As a practicing Psychologist I am now also formally trained and assessed for teaching and training.
These days it feels like learning and development opportunities are more available than ever, to the point of us possibly having too many options for podcasts, self help books, online learning and audiobooks (and knowing what's good!).
‘Which podcasts do you listen to?’ definitely feels like a big social judgement of the type of person we are compared to just a few years ago when podcast listeners were a minority of people.
It took me to being in my mid-twenties to pick up reading for enjoyment and now I read 365 days a year without fail (and love podcasts on the move). Yet most friends, family and colleagues enjoy lots of learning styles and generally it doesn’t matter too much how you choose to develop yourself with such rich and varied opportunities if you feel you are developing.
But have you ever listened to a podcast or read something and thought ‘I enjoyed that’ or ‘I learned loads from that’ but then can’t really remember what or it doesn't change anything for you on the subject matter?
The latest research on adult learning suggests this might be due to the need for ‘active learning’ (Glance et al, 2018) and learner engagement (Lombardi & Shipley, 2021) as essential considerations for effective learner outcomes.This broadly means not just passively reading or listening without action related to the content.
Joe’s top tips for supporting active learning and engagement.
Stop, pause and take notes and actions in real time as something important lands for you
When you finish learning a piece of content, spare some time to take notes on the key points
Reflect on the learning and come back to it. Make points on previous learning before moving on to the next element.
02. HEALTH - Jonny Grayshon
Fancy a night cap?
Get in from a long day, grab a bottle and unwind.
You need it, right?
It’ll help you relax. Switch off. And sleep better…?
Wrong!
It will actually do the opposite.
Only 1 to 4 units of alcohol can disrupt sleep by a whopping 40%.
We don’t sleep after we drink, we are unconscious (and the two are very different states).
When we rise feeling tired after a poor nights sleep, this impacts food choices (carb cravings) which makes sticking to our caloric needs difficult. Our will power, mood, energy levels and cognitive function are all impaired.
To counter the above we will also usually opt for caffeine first thing in the morning which can further disrupt our natural hormonal flow throughout the day, compounding the above emotions.
Booze damages our sleep and poor sleep leads to illness, poor performance and health related issues.
It’s a fact.
So next time you feel the need to reach for the bottle in a bid to switch off, try one of the following instead :
Stretch
Breath work
Hot magnesium salt bath - BetterYou
Read something light hearted
Practice being present / still
Journal
03. LEADERSHIP - Mike Bates
C+C+C=?
The following perspective on leadership forms part of my ‘ABC’ principles. A unique framework for developing and cultivating high performance on an individual and team level.
My sense of the craft of leadership (note: Leadership is not a skill) has been forged throughout a career leading Royal Marines Commandos to war, leading covert operational teams on the front line in the global war on terror and in business.
I believe that leadership isn’t people or projects or budgets.
That is management.
True leaders create change and challenge the status-quo.
They unlock the hidden potential in others.
They place empathy and care as the heart of their mission.
I believe that all leaders share the following 3 behaviours or traits. I call them my ‘3 Cs’:
Courage
To be out front in the spotlight, and often behind in the shadows.
To be vulnerable and admit that you’re not sure.
To be different, to challenge and to create change.
To lead with authenticity, to be you and true to your personal values no matter what.
Clarity
In the way we communicate across all forms.
In helping to create a shared mission for people to unite behind and champion.
In your expectations of others and of yourself.
Integrity, always.
Credibility
By walking the walk.
By showing up no matter what.
By putting others first.
By caring about your people.
Leadership takes time to hone and shape and cannot be learned from a text and implemented directly (see Joe’s piece above) .
Experience counts, but it isn’t everything.
The best leaders are a force for good in the world.
They step out into the open and accept that they may fail.
They do it regardless.
Leadership isn’t about you it is about everyone else.
Leadership is all about you and it starts by leading yourself.
04. QUOTE
“Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the night”
William Blake
05. TIP
Prevent your bathroom mirror from fogging up after a hot shower with car wax.
Apply a small amount of car wax to the mirror, let it dry, then buff with a soft, dry cloth.
Wax on, beard off.
The Journal by NXT45
