The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. - Alvin Toffler
Improving the quality of thinking in the Navy is crucial. If we are to improve our Navy’s ability to think, we must deal with two aspects of thinking: education and the environment. We must educate our Sailors about independent thinking. This involves making them more aware of their limitations, and teaching them to use a range of tools and techniques to encourage more divergent thinking.
Thinking techniques come from a wide variety of sources and can overcome some of the limitations we all have due to weaknesses in our brains’ construction, as well as overcoming the bad habits of thinking developed during a lifetime of exposure to education, training, social and work cultures.
Training Sailors to use these techniques is relatively easy and addresses ‘thinking’ by individuals and teams. The Navy must develop an environment that supports and encourages thinking. In many ways the environment is the most important, and difficult, challenge. If we train Sailors to use techniques that improve their thinking, but then do not support the use of those techniques within the workplace, we will fail. Changing the environment will take a long-term, consistent effort throughout the Navy.
Naval Education and Training Command–NETC should develop a ‘thinking’ approach to training. Instructors should become facilitators, coaches and mentors to students. Students should be encouraged to think more about what they are doing. If the Navy is to improve its ability to think, we must all play our part by supporting the application of thinking skills and techniques. We also need to encourage, recognize and reward good thinking.
Thinking techniques come from a wide variety of sources and can overcome some of the limitations we all have due to weaknesses in our brains’ construction, as well as overcoming the bad habits of thinking developed during a lifetime of exposure to education, training, social and work cultures.
Training Sailors to use these techniques is relatively easy and addresses ‘thinking’ by individuals and teams. The Navy must develop an environment that supports and encourages thinking. In many ways the environment is the most important, and difficult, challenge. If we train Sailors to use techniques that improve their thinking, but then do not support the use of those techniques within the workplace, we will fail. Changing the environment will take a long-term, consistent effort throughout the Navy.
Naval Education and Training Command–NETC should develop a ‘thinking’ approach to training. Instructors should become facilitators, coaches and mentors to students. Students should be encouraged to think more about what they are doing. If the Navy is to improve its ability to think, we must all play our part by supporting the application of thinking skills and techniques. We also need to encourage, recognize and reward good thinking.
SHAMELESSLY STOLEN FROM THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY here. It was originally Lieutenant Colonel Richard King's plea for a thinking Army. I made a few substitutions. I don't think he would mind.
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