Learning happens when we move from understanding to action.
The NHS is associated with the traditional medical training principle of “See One, Do One, Teach One.” The idea is simple: observe someone with experience, try it yourself, then pass the knowledge on.
The real power is in the progression. Don’t wait for mastery to take the next step.
1. Watch One
Observe someone who knows what they are doing. Pay attention to the process, the decisions, and the reasons behind them.
Once you grasp the basics, it’s time to try.
2. Do One
Put what you’ve learned into practice. Make mistakes, adjust, and try again. You don’t need to have it all figured out; you need to start building experience.
As the pieces begin to come together, move to the next step.
3. Teach One
Explain what you’ve learned to someone else. Teaching exposes gaps in your understanding and forces you to organize what you know.
You don’t need to know everything to teach someone what you already understand.
Keep the cycle moving
The point isn’t to master one stage before advancing. It’s to move forward as soon as you have enough understanding to take the next step safely.
Watch to understand. Do to learn. Teach to grow.
Then repeat the cycle. Every time you teach, you create an opportunity to learn something new yourself.
Are you waiting until you feel like an expert, or are you moving forward as you learn?