The Otis Redding syndrome - focus to improve learning results.

In previous blogs I wrote about the need for focus to improve learning results. (click here for previous blogposts on the topic)

Recently Luc Galoppin and Bob Sutton explained the Otis Redding syndrome on their blogs. It is a very strong metaphor to explain why sometimes people with good intentions sometimes get paralyzed because of an overload of opinions and politics. And in the end, they don't change, because the choose for the well known comfort zone they've been in for the last 10 years.



In his world famous song "The dock of the bay", Otis Redding sings

"I can't do what 10 people tell me to do

so I guess I remain the same"

In learning we can also apply this syndrome. If someone is trying to learn a new skill, while 10 people are giving their opinion on how the person is trying to adapt the new skills, the person will get confused and frustrated and in the end he might stop learning and just remain the same. 

Can you imagine what happens if a football team is built of 11 coaches and only one football player ? Luckily it is the other way round or the poor player would be lost even before he sets one foot on the green.

So if you want to help people in their learning, make sure feedback is given in a positive, clear way, by one person. 

And for the music lovers, push the button below and listen to this fantastic song :