Full Learning Mode

Two weeks ago, I took on something new. A product and a team I barely knew anything about.

It’s uncomfortable being in charge when you’re not an expert. So, the best thing I can do is accelerate my journey to understanding, learning the nuances, and becoming as close to an expert as possible.

I’ve done this before, and it worked. Friends have taken the same approach, and it worked for them too. Good enough reasons to believe it will work this time as well.

I call this process “full learning mode.” Nothing fancy, just a commitment to absorbing as much as I can, as quickly as I can.

Footnotes:
- As much as I can doesn’t mean everything.
- As quickly as I can doesn’t mean within a week.

Full learning mode means:
- Meeting the people who know what you don’t.
- Talking to those who’ve done what you’re about to do.
- Learning from those who care deeply about the work you’ll take on.
- Consuming every bit of information related to the decisions you’ll make.
- Observing the dynamics of your new environment.

Equally important, it means that it's not the time to:
- Rush decisions.
- Share your strongest opinions or lay out big plans.
- Assume you have all the answers.
- Blame previous decisions or former leaders.

Most importantly, it’s the time to stay humble. Acknowledge what you don’t know.

Then, as you absorb and understand, you’ll start to act consciously, knowing the facts.

Full learning mode allows you to build two things:
- Knowledge. Better decisions, rooted in reality, not assumptions.
- Trust. Listening, learning, and humility earn respect from those around you.

Let yourself truly learn before jumping in. You will be laying the foundation for something big.