“The Illiterate of the future are not those who can’t read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn,” Alvin Toffler, Futurist

Alvin Toffler was a futurist who lived from 1928 to 2016. A futurist is someone who studies trends and writes about those trends to help society, organizations, educators, financers, make wise choices about future directions and decisions. Futurists look for and find meaning in current trends leading into the future as opposed to looking back on the history of the past.

In the above quote, Toffler is not really giving us a new definition of illiteracy, as much as he is being attentive to a rising trend where change will become a constant and rapid force. From an organizational perspective, the twentieth century was charged primarily with the task of maintaining the status quo. Toffler had the foresight to see that change itself was accelerating and would continue to accelerate as to command a new approach to learning.

For many people, learning has been something one does in school and ceases for the most part once you enter into the workforce, with the exception of onboarding. The learning that Toffler directs us to is dynamic, adaptable, and loosely held when appropriate.

Toffler points to lifelong continuous learning that empowers learners to remain relevant and effective, capable of overcoming the status quo when necessary for success. It requires learners to be open and in pursuit of both personal and professional development. Open to new learning, of course, requires that one is willing to recognize when their learning is no longer relevant or accurate, and having the humility to abort outdated beliefs, practices and knowledge that may hinder developmental growth.

Relearning is the ability to revise our own concepts based upon new information and different contexts. The willingness to relearn underscores the importance of being receptive to change and a willingness to adapt one’s understanding as situations evolve and warrant. Relearning is necessary for navigating a changing landscape.

Coach Diana Dee