Outside In/ Inside Out Learning
Is your learning outside-in or inside-out?
There are two kinds of learning: outside-in learning and inside-out learning.
Outside-in Learning
Have you ever started to learn something just because everyone around you seems to be talking about something?
That is outside-in learning.
Learning something because it is trendy or popular. Learning something out of FOMO. This is learning that is driven by external factors.
Example:
An individual starting to learn an instrument because all their friends are learning it as well
An organisation picking up the latest trend in their domain & planning a workshop with the entire team on it
Inside-out Learning
Have you ever started to learn something because it is something you need to learn in order to grow and improve?
That is inside-out learning.
Learning something because it is something that you need to learn. Learning something after reflecting. This is learning that is driven by internal factors.
Example:
An individual starting to pick up how to cook right after moving out of home for the first time
An organisation analysing where it’s employees need to grow and then planning training around it
Which one is better?
There is place for both outside-in and inside-out learning. However, it is important to recognise what kind of learning are you signing up for.
Some things to keep in mind when we talk about outside-in learning:
Outside-in learning might be great to stay on-track with what is happening in the outside world, but it may not be something you can directly apply at that time
Trends can change overnight - making it easy to lose motivation to continue with outside-in learning if the extrernal factors change
On the other hand, inside-out learning:
Is likely to be more long-lasting because it is driven in a core need that is unique to you/ your organisation
Requires a lot of reflection and understanding of what is truly needed - something that requires time and tact
In conclusion, both outside-in and inside-out learning have their own place. Before starting to learn something new, ask yourself - “Is my learning outside-in or inside-out?”