Today I thought, rather than continue to wax lyrical at you about various topics and my point of view on them, I thought instead you could read someone’s else take. So you can see it’s not just me! 😉
This article may be old now (1994), but the subjects and the intent is as relevant today as it was then.
The reason I share this is we’ve talked about the importance of communicating differently whilst we are virtual, and of focussing on building trust through the use of questions and getting habits into our sub-conscious brains.
The article shares some fascinating insights in how often trying to do the right thing, is actually unhelpful and blocks learning. It uses the method and TQM (Total Quality Management), which isn’t so much in vogue these days, but that doesn’t mean it does have value and cannot offer us things to learn.
The piece I want you to focus on is the principles of single-loop and double-loop learning:
From the article:
“Single-loop learning asks a one-dimensional question to elicit a one-dimensional answer. My favourite example is a thermostat, which measures ambient temperature against a standard setting and turns the heat source on or off accordingly. The whole transaction is binary.
Double-loop learning takes an additional step or, more often than not, several additional steps. It turns the question back on the questioner. It asks what the media call follow-ups. In the case of the thermostat, for instance, double-loop learning would wonder whether the current setting was actually the most effective temperature at which to keep the room and, if so, whether the present heat source was the most effective means of achieving it. A double-loop process might also ask why the current setting was chosen in the first place. In other words, double-loop learning asks questions not only about objective facts but also about the reasons and motives behind those facts.”
The article’s explanation of the mental models behind how these loops work and why most corporates actually encourage single-loop learning only, relates right back to the blogs I’ve already written about the sub-conscious mind and the beliefs and habits that reside there.
Everything really is interlinked and it’s evident in front of each of us every day. And its universal which is equally fascinating.
The article is long enough, so I’ll stop here to let you read it, ponder it and see what you can relate to and what you think you personally can do to ensure double loop learning is possible in the conversations, meetings and management that you do with and within your teams.
Until next time...
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