Learn Anything with the Feynman Technique
What is the Feynman Technique?
The Feynman technique is a 4 step approach to learning a new skill or concept that may seem complex.
Named after the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, this method revolves around one powerful principle: if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
The Feynman technique forces you to confront your own understanding of a concept by writing it down in its simplest form possible. By doing this you actively engage with the material, revealing gaps in your knowledge and solidifying your grasp.
The real magic happens when you teach it to someone else.
When you have the ability to clearly articulate a complicated concept so that someone else can understand it (and possibly implement it), you understand it.
How the Feynman Technique works
- Choose a concept and study it
- Teach it to someone else (or pretend to at least)
- Identify and fill your knowledge gaps
- Simplify even further by using analogies
Start with the topic you want to understand. Take notes, read relevant material, and engage with content. Force yourself to dig past fancy words or complicated details and find the core meaning of the concept.
Once you think you have a good grasp of the topic, try teaching someone who doesn’t know anything about it.
When you try to explain, you’ll probably hit some spots where you struggle. Maybe you’re unsure about a part or find yourself using vague words. Those tricky spots are signs you don’t fully understand the concept.
After you identify your knowledge gap, you revisit the source material—books, articles, or videos—until you feel you can clearly explain those points. This reinforces what you’ve learned because you’re actively finding and fixing your knowledge gaps.
Take your refined understanding and turn it into an even simpler explanation. Create analogies that you can use to recall the concept to clearly explain it to others. When you can explain it clearly and confidently, it means you truly understand it.
Why the Feynman Technique Works
The Feynman technique works because it incorporates both passive learning and active learning.
1. Explaining something boosts understanding
When you try to explain something to someone else, you’re forced to think it through and simplify it. Studies show that this process, known as self-explanation, helps us understand complex ideas better because it makes us connect the dots for ourselves.
2. Active recall improves your memory
The Feynman Technique involves “retrieval practice”—basically, actively recalling information instead of just reading it over and over. Research tells us that pulling information out of our memory strengthens it, making it easier to remember later. Think of it like working out a muscle in the gym.
3. Simplifying ideas reduces overwhelm
Simplifying complex concepts into smaller, digestible parts—just like you do when explaining it simply—helps reduce mental overload. This approach, called chunking, makes learning easier because our brains can handle bite-sized ideas much better than massive, complicated ones.
4. Finding gaps builds better a understanding
The Feynman technique also involves catching yourself when you don’t fully understand something. This is a form of metacognition, or thinking about your own thinking. By spotting gaps in your knowledge, you know exactly what you need to work on to fully understand the topic.
5. Teaching reinforces your knowledge
When you teach—even if it’s to an imaginary audience—it reinforces what you know. Research shows that teaching makes us organize information better, anticipate questions, and dive deeper, which solidifies our understanding.
When to use the Feynman technique
Make the Feynman Technique a daily habit by applying it in as many situations as possible. As you practice, you’ll quickly become comfortable with learning and mastering new concepts. With time, tackling complex ideas will feel second nature, making continuous learning an integral part of your day.
Here are a few key scenarios where you can plug in the Feynman technique:
1. Clarify projects and ideas
When sharing updates or explaining complex topics, use the Feynman Technique to simplify your message. Break down each part into plain language to make it easy for others to understand and act on.
2. Improve documentation and training
When writing documentation or summarizing new insights, explain things as if you were teaching a beginner. This keeps instructions clear and accessible, making it easier for new team members to follow along and helping the whole team stay on the same page.
3. Communicate clearly with clients
Use the Feynman Technique to explain your work and ideas to clients in simple, straightforward language. Break down complex strategies or technical details to ensure clients understand the value you bring.
4. Streamline daily communication
Before sending detailed messages, use the Feynman Technique to simplify complex points. This reduces misunderstandings and extra questions, making your day-to-day interactions more efficient and leaving less room for confusion.
5. Learn new skills faster
When you’re learning something new, try explaining it in your own words as if you’re teaching someone else. This will strengthens your understanding, help you remember key points, and makes it easier to apply what you’ve learned.
The Bottom Line
Use the Feynman technique to improve your understanding of topics and themes relevant to your daily life. This 4 step technique will allow you to accelerate your learning and drastically increase the value of your contributions.
Choose a concept, simplify it, and witness how this powerful approach can transform the way you learn and communicate.
