Declarative learning happens through the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays important roles in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory. Declarative learning lends itself to explicit, conscious recollection. This type of learning involves a weak set of patterns, that is, I can explain it to you, but from a place of explicit understanding rather than implicit experience. I can explain the theory but not the experience.

Learning by experience is called procedural learning. In procedural learning, acquisition and memory are demonstrated through task performance. We experience by doing. This learning happens through the part of the brain called the basal ganglia, responsible for habit formation and repeat task formation. This type of learning involves a strong set of patterns, where, I can explain to you by drawing on implicit experiences. As I practice any skill, my learning patterns become increasingly ingrained, like the grooves in a vinyl record.

For innovation initiatives to succeed we must experiment and not just discuss.