Charles Handy Learning by writing 160515

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of writing one's life story for personal growth and sharing wisdom with future generations. They highlight the limited retention of information from lectures, advocating for an interactive learning approach where students teach each other, as practiced in their teaching career at the London Business School. The speaker also underscores the value of listening and asking questions, as illustrated by their experience with a top oil company executive and a theatrical director, to foster learning and leadership. The talk concludes with the speaker's personal quest to understand Peter Drucker's impact on them through dialogue.

Takeaways

• 📝 Writing your life story is beneficial for self-reflection and learning, as it can be a gift to future generations.
• 🧠 The human brain retains a limited amount of information from lectures, with significant forgetting occurring shortly after the event.
• 🗣️ Active participation in teaching and discussion enhances learning more than passive listening.
• 🏫 The speaker's teaching method at the London Business School involved students in active research and teaching their peers, rather than traditional lecturing.
• 📚 Students were tasked with investigating real-world topics and reporting their findings, which contributed to a deeper learning experience.
• 🤔 Asking questions is a powerful tool for learning and understanding, as it encourages critical thinking and exploration.
• 🏢 In leadership roles, listening and asking questions are more valuable than simply dictating or pontificating.
• 👂 Active listening is crucial in all aspects of life, including business, education, and personal relationships.
• 🎭 The essence of acting, according to a distinguished director, is paying attention to all elements of the performance.
• 👨‍👧 Encouraging children to express their ideas and listen to them can foster their learning and independence.
• 🗣️ Speaking publicly, such as in this lecture, is a way for the speaker to learn about the impact of their work and ideas on others.

Q & A

Why is writing the story of one's life recommended?

Writing the story of one's life is recommended because it allows individuals to learn an enormous amount from the process, both by writing and talking about their experiences.

What percentage of the content will the audience remember after leaving the room?

According to the script, the audience will only remember 18 percent of what has been said after leaving the room at twelve thirty.

How much of the content will the audience recall by the time they go back to bed that night?

By the time they go back to bed that night, the audience will likely only recall 5 percent of the content, possibly just one or two of the new pictures shown.

What teaching method did the speaker adopt in their last two years at the London Business School?

In the speaker's last two years at the London Business School, they gave no lectures and spoke minimally in class, instead assigning students to conduct active research and teach the rest of the class what they learned.

What was the assignment given to the students by the speaker at the London Business School?

The students were assigned to investigate different organizations and explore topics such as motivation and creativity, and then teach the rest of the class what they discovered.

What was the final requirement for the students after their class presentations?

After their class presentations, each student had to write an individual 3000-word essay on what they learned and how it would change their life.

What did the speaker learn about leadership from a chairman of a large oil company?

The speaker learned that a key part of leadership is asking questions and listening to the answers, as it encourages others to think and act on the questions posed.

What advice does the speaker give to parents regarding their children's future?

The speaker advises parents to ask their children what they want to do and to listen to their ideas, rather than telling them what to do.

What is the secret of acting according to a distinguished theatrical director in London?

The secret of acting, as told by a distinguished theatrical director in London, is paying attention to the other actors on stage and to the words they have learned.

What did the speaker do to understand the impact Peter Drucker had on them?

The speaker persuaded the Drucker Institute to invite them to talk to the audience in order to learn about the impact Peter Drucker had on them through the process of talking.

Why did the speaker choose to stand up and talk to the audience despite the benefits of listening?

The speaker chose to stand up and talk to the audience to learn about the impact of Peter Drucker, as they believed that persuading others to listen to them was a way to gain insights through the act of speaking.