Whose Responsibility Is It to Help You Learn?

We often hear youngsters, and adults, blame the education system, the faculty, or the methods for their lack of learning. But the truth is this: if you are not learning, it’s more about you than anyone else.

In my workshops, I often begin with a simple statement:

“The responsibility to learn from this workshop is yours.”

If, at the end of the session, you feel you haven’t learnt enough, blame yourself or your peers in the room for not having tried enough.

That may sound egoistic, but it’s not. It’s actually the opposite: a humble acknowledgment that a facilitator is just that: a facilitator. Learning cannot be done to you. It can only happen through you.

We spend hours designing a program with L&D teams, fine-tuning content, and building engaging experiences. But if a participant is not prepared or willing to learn, even the best workshop in the world can’t help.

As I’ve written in my book Learning to Learn, the secret lies in the learner’s mindset. Here are five things I believe every learner must do to truly benefit from any learning experience:

1. Show Up—Fully

Being physically present is not enough. Be mentally present. Put away distractions. Step into the room with intent.

A faculty can do many things to hold attention, but if you’re not committed to the process, learning breaks before it even begins.

2. Listen Deeply

Use active listening tools like taking notes, asking clarification questions, and connecting ideas to your own experiences.

When you listen well, you don’t just absorb knowledge, you energize the room. When you don’t, you drain it.

3. Disagree and Debate

Great learning comes from friction. Challenge ideas. Ask for different perspectives.

One of my most popular strategy case studies was born when a participant said, “Can we please have an example other than Apple?”

Curiosity creates innovation. Don’t be afraid to question.

4. Ask Meaningful Questions

When a facilitator asks, “Any questions?” – it’s not a filler. It’s an invitation to shape the conversation.

Come prepared with your expectations and problems to solve. Learning is not consumption; it’s co-creation.

5. Reflect and Synthesise

Learning doesn’t end when the workshop ends. That’s when it begins.

Take time to reflect, connect ideas to your reality, and identify what you’ll do differently. Then review and refine.

Reflection converts knowledge into wisdom.

The Art of Learning

Learning is not automatic. It’s an art, and like all arts, it improves with deliberate practice.

Those who learn how to learn don’t just grow faster; they stay alive, curious, and joyful.

And eventually, they become great coaches, because they’ve mastered the system of growth itself.