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Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?

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Re: Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?

#11

Post by mygo »

otras wrote: post #6
jppope wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did not care for that course. The production value was horrendous 2 years ago when I tried to take it. But this answer is 100% accurate

Ha, I know what you mean! I found the information extremely valuable, but I do agree that the production value leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not sure if you've read her book A Mind For Numbers , but it has largely the same information (without nearly as many clipart zombies).

In a similar vein, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s hard for people to get to the message if they can’t get past the presentation.

And that a killer presentation can even get you trust from people that you shouldn’t even be getting, bypassing what may otherwise have been great difficulty to earn their trust.

Re: Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?

#12

Post by danaliv »

heavyheavy wrote: post #9
utborin wrote: post #7

Active listening. I'm amazed at how much better discussions go when this simple tool is used. Conflicts big and small melt away. Understanding, trust, and confidence are built. And even if not everyone agrees at the end, they at least feel heard, which is such an overlooked and underrated need.

What resource did you learn this from?

Therapy. :)

Re: Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?

#13

Post by qychtkd »

heavyheavy wrote: post #9
utborin wrote: post #7

Active listening. I'm amazed at how much better discussions go when this simple tool is used. Conflicts big and small melt away. Understanding, trust, and confidence are built. And even if not everyone agrees at the end, they at least feel heard, which is such an overlooked and underrated need.

What resource did you learn this from?

One way I found helpful is to repeat or paraphrase what the other person had said in the conversation. At first I was surprised by how difficult this was. Then I realized it’s because I was just hearing the words but not processing them. This also signifies to the other person that you are understanding and engaging in the conversation.

Re: Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?

#15

Post by beatgammit »

facorreia wrote: post #14

Reading. The second one is writing.

IDK, eating has served me quite well ;)

I think developing a love for reading is really important. I'm not a big reader, but I can usually finish 20+ books a year, half of which are beneficial beyond enjoyment.

Re: Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?

#17

Post by lihaciudaniel »

otras wrote: post #2

This is a very meta response, but the best skill I've ever learned is how to learn. Barbara Oakley's Learning How To Learn class [0] was immensely helpful for understanding how brains work and how I could learn efficiently. I made it through college with a combination of cramming and bad sleep habits, but focusing on spaced repetition, the diffuse/active modes, and sleep has made classes I've taken since feel like ea…

This book literally changed my view point. I first listened to the audio TTS while commuting to school. Then i read in entirely before an math exam. I read it again this summer because I realized I didn't quite understood all chapters. The book was great and helped me become a better chess player , better learner shaping how I read (after hard reading and focus using the Darwanian I had a beautiful park to walk near the library where I studied and read), but as last chapter there is told a quote by Feynman "Don't fool yourself because and you are the easiest person to fool" or something like that , I did quite failed the exam and did average (7.6/100). Great read.

Re: Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?

#19

Post by danaliv »

qychtkd wrote: post #13
heavyheavy wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What resource did you learn this from?

One way I found helpful is to repeat or paraphrase what the other person had said in the conversation. At first I was surprised by how difficult this was. Then I realized it’s because I was just hearing the words but not processing them. This also signifies to the other person that you are understanding and engaging in the conversation.

That's basically it. I find that it serves three functions: one is making the other person feel heard, two is making sure I actually understand what they're saying (misunderstandings are more common than I think!), and three is forcing me to put my own response on hold. That last bit is huge. I had no idea how reactive I was in conversation, and what a detriment it is to communication.

Re: Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?

#20

Post by jczhang »

jppope wrote: post #4
otras wrote: post #2

This is a very meta response, but the best skill I've ever learned is how to learn. Barbara Oakley's Learning How To Learn class [0] was immensely helpful for understanding how brains work and how I could learn efficiently. I made it through college with a combination of cramming and bad sleep habits, but focusing on spaced repetition, the diffuse/active modes, and sleep has made classes I've taken since feel like ea…

I did not care for that course. The production value was horrendous 2 years ago when I tried to take it. But this answer is 100% accurate

Wonder if there is an updated version to this with better value?
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