Quick Learner vs Slow Learner

What’s difference? Why is it important to know?

Source: unsplash

I joined an online course called “Mindshift” and it really shifts my mind, my way of thinking. I know it sounds preposterous, but it’s true! It has many insights that looks simple or obvious, but in reality, it’s not. We often forget those simple facts.

This article talks about one of the earlier lesson that really hooks me in and makes me sure that this is it.

Being a slow learner can be a bit frustrating because when our peers already get to the point, we're still in the middle of processing it. These quick learners, we call them as race car brain, get to the destination so quickly to the point they just breeze through anything. While slow learners, hiker brain, walk slowly, so they can see what's around them.

In daily life (as cited by Mrs. Barbara Oakley from Santiago Ramon Cajol*), these race car brains tend to jump into conclusion too fast and ended up charging through taking along incorrect conclusion. It can be bad because it means they tend to not taking account another probability, leaving out some important part and ended up not flexible enough when new things came up. However, the hiker brains will likely be weighing things first because they don’t jump to conclusion too fast.

It’s interesting to note that racing car brain can also be a problem if they consider themselves the only right one. On the other hand, hiker brain tends to be more flexible and open to more opportunity.

So, what if you’re quick learner? Does that mean it’s bad?

In my personal opinion, it’s not. It can be even more incredible if you can think quickly but still open to changes and take many things into account before forming any conclusion. It will be a very useful asset in the world where things change so fast.

I’m not saying that it’s bad being slow learner or belittling slow learner with this. As explained above, it’s actually a good thing because you can think more carefully and that’s crucial when making a big decision. Yet, it will be bad if this consideration takes too long and hinder the progress. It’s not about being a slow learner anymore, but evolves to overthinker.

I think that’s the reason why in a company, we gather many people with their different brain paces to share or consider something. That will help things to be not too rushed, but still efficient enough to go on.

…if this consideration takes too long and hinder the progress. It’s not about being a slow learner anymore, but evolves to overthinker.

*Adapted from Coursera Course by Barbara Oakley