Although I don't like the writing style of Ken Blanchard, I read this short and useful book due to the it's important subject. Here is my summery directly from the text to review them frequently:
There are three reasons why people don’t learn and start doing what they know:
1- information overload:
◆ We retain only a small fraction of what we read and hear only once.
◆ Therefore, we should read and learn less more and not more less.
◆ To master something, we should focus on a few key concepts, repeat them over time, immerse ourselves deeply in them, and expand on the ideas and skills. Spaced repetition is key.
◆ Once people have mastered their jobs, they are better able to be creative and make big things happen.
2- negative filtering
◆ Because we don’t get unconditional love and support when we are young, we begin to doubt ourselves and doubt others.
◆ Self-doubt causes us to filter all information— whether in book, audio, video, seminar, or conversation format—through our indecisive, closed-minded, judgmental, critical, fear-ridden mind-set, which leads to negative thinking.
◆ Negative thinking causes us to
• learn and use only a small fraction of what we see and hear;
• achieve only a small percentage of what we could achieve;
• accept too little too soon.
◆ We grow best with a positive, open mind that ignites our creativity, ingenuity, and resource- fulness and creates possibilities beyond our expectations.
◆ We must find ways to become ready and willing to open our minds. Instead of trying to find what’s wrong in the new information, we need to be Green Light Thinkers who actively seek out what’s right and say to ourselves: “I know there is something of value in what I’m reading or hearing; what is it?”
◆ Changing a closed, negative mind-set to an open, positive mind-set cannot be left to chance. Once we commit to changing, we need a specific strategy that continually reinforces our new way of thinking.
3- lack of follow-up
◆ Successful people yearn to learn and have a follow-up plan for learning.
◆ Doing what we’ve been taught cannot be left to chance. A follow-up plan that provides structure, support and accountability must be set up to help us behave on our good intentions.
◆ The sequence of tell me, show me, let me, observe me, and praise my progress or redirect me is a simple but powerful follow-up plan that helps potential winners become winners.
◆ Accentuating the positive helps learners become eager beavers. Praising progress is important before redirecting or correcting takes place. Over time, learners should be able to praise and redirect themselves.
◆ One-on-one meetings and outside telephone coaching are also helpful vehicles for closing the knowing-doing gap.