Have you noticed the state of fatigue after a day spent in training? Have you noticed how we lose all of our bearings and feel overwhelmed when we are learning something new? What are the impacts on a person when they learn? To illustrate this, take the example of a person learning to drive a car.

During the first practical lesson, the instructor teaches him to go around the vehicle to check its condition before taking a seat inside. Once seated, he asks him to adjust the seat and the mirror, to fasten his seat belt, to verify that the passenger (s) have fastened their seat belt, then to turn the key and check the fuel level. The car has not moved, driving has not started and the person is already tired. At this precise moment, the student does not think of the 2,500 things that he knows and can do; he thinks only of what he ignores and feels incompetent. Its performance drops drastically. Sometimes the person even wonders if they will ever get there. So learning is tiring and weakening, because it places the individual in a zone of discomfort. Human beings are comfortable when they have automated their activities. He therefore leaves his comfort zone when he is learning and will only find it once he has integrated the new task into his routine.

Figure 1 : Learning Curve

Source : Sonia Perron

When the person starts to drive, he needs to focus. So he gets tired quickly. Years later, he may go to his destination without noticing and may have planned his day at work, thought about the errands he had to run and even participated in a conference call.

The time to automate will vary from person to person, but discomfort will be present during this time. Imagine the effects on people’s performance and behavior during a long learning period … the discomfort is permanent.

Figure 2 : Effect of Sustained Learning

Source : Sonia Perron

In today’s work environment, it is common for employees to experience multiple changes simultaneously or consecutively, which involves continuous learning.

It is advisable to avoid imposing changes in large numbers and simultaneously, because not only does organizational productivity decrease, but performance and individual well-being deteriorate. You can make a difference to the health of your workforce while ensuring your business goals are achieved.

Image from wokandapix