We celebrate learning. We reward certifications, training, and new skills. But what we rarely acknowledge is that unlearning — letting go of what no longer serves us — is just as important.

The Shrinking Half-Life of Skills

In today’s world, skills don’t last forever. The “half-life” of technical and leadership skills is shrinking rapidly. What made you valuable yesterday may make you obsolete tomorrow.

What Unlearning Really Means

Unlearning isn’t about forgetting. It’s about recognizing when a skill, method, or belief no longer fits the environment. It’s about creating space for new approaches. Example: leaders who unlearned micromanagement to adopt empowerment in remote work environments.

Why Leaders Struggle with It

Ego and comfort keep us holding on. Success can trap us into believing yesterday’s methods guarantee tomorrow’s results. They don’t.

Unlearning as a Superpower

The best leaders I’ve met don’t just learn quickly — they unlearn quickly. They identify what to drop, what to replace, and how to pivot.

Closing Thought

Learning makes you grow. Unlearning makes you adaptable. Together, they future-proof your career. So — what do you need to unlearn this year?