For as long as I can remember, I have been directionally challenged. I grew up in Washington state where the roads curve, the trees are tall, and major landmarks to help with orientation are difficult to come by. Navigation anywhere for me (even to this day) can be incredibly difficult without the aid of Google Maps.
This does not mean I have not been getting better. Since my wife and I have been married (nearly 12 years) we have lived in eight different cities. The pattern is always the same for me. I do not know how to get anywhere; I rely 100% on Google Maps to get me to my destination. Over time I start to build a map in my head. My pattern has been that after about 6-8 months in a single place I have a few maps built in my head. Once I get to a certain place where my map starts, I can figure out where I am, but my mental maps do not always connect. Common locations are mapped out first, the kids’ school, grocery store, and church. Then less common areas start to populate and grow the maps.
In my experience it is not until 18-24 months in a location before I am able to start meaningfully connect the different maps to form one big map and I do not rely upon Google Maps as often.
I was taught recently by a neuroscientist that while my challenge at directions may not be universal, the idea of building out mental maps is a part of how every brain is wired. Every human being has their own set of maps to orient and make sense of the world. When you are presented with new information but it does not fit in any way to your mental map then the new information either has no sticking power or is considered useless.
The power then in teaching is two-fold. First, you must teach with a high degree of coherence. All that you teach should be on the same map and there should be clear connections from one concept to another to see the relationships between concepts. Second, you must assess those you teach so you can tailor your message to find connections to their mental maps. Without doing both of these things, what you are teaching will never have the intended impact.
Take five minutes now to consider your experience in learning and ask yourself the following questions.
- What do you feel you are most passionate about and have learned a lot about?
- When learning this, what connections did you make to make the content or concept personal?
- What has helped you to teach this concept to others?
Answering these questions will help you be more aware of your mental maps and those of others. You will be a more effective leader and teacher as a result of better understanding your own mental maps and the mental maps of those you lead.
