The Power of Shadowing: Learning Like an Apprentice

The Power of Shadowing: Learning Like an Apprentice

Recently, a talented mentor of mine recommended I try shadowing sessions. After taking a few with mentees, I found them to be one of the most effective ways to share knowledge.

The concept is simple: one person works while another observes, comparing their approach and learning from the process. This method reveals unexpected insights, especially when done with junior colleagues. Sometimes, they notice things we overlook, and other times, we expose them to ideas they wouldn’t have considered on their own.

But shadowing isn’t just a modern workplace tool—it’s a deeply human way of learning, dating back to medieval apprenticeships.

Shadowing and the History of Learning

Think about how knights were trained. A young squire didn’t just read about sword fighting; they spent years watching, assisting, and absorbing everything their mentor did. By the time they faced their own battles, they had a mental archive of real-world experience to draw from.

A squire didn’t just read about sword fighting—they watched, assisted, and learned through experience. Shadowing combines knowledge with practice, making learning truly stick.

Some might argue that true independence comes from figuring things out alone, but that’s not how mastery works.

Even in the arts, creativity isn’t just about raw talent. Picasso and Warhol first mastered classical styles before breaking the rules and revolutionizing their fields. True innovation comes from first understanding the base structures and then expanding on them.

The same applies to shadowing. You’re not limiting your originality by learning from others—you’re building a foundation that allows you to innovate later.

This is where a powerful study on innovation comes into play.

Why Knowledge Sharing Beats Isolated Genius

A study by Muthukrishna and Henrich, "Innovation in the Collective Brain," found something fascinating:

• There are two types of innovators:

  1. The Geniuses – People who create groundbreaking ideas but struggle to share them.

  2. The Social Connectors – People who may not create new ideas but spread them quickly and refine them.

And guess what? Over time, the social connectors outperformed the geniuses. Why? Because knowledge only becomes powerful when it spreads.

This is exactly why shadowing is a game changer. It accelerates knowledge-sharing by making sure that great insights don’t stay locked in one person’s head.

Every day, Odin’s ravens, Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory), flew across the world, gathering and spreading wisdom. Without them, his knowledge would have remained locked away

What You Can Learn from Shadowing

Shadowing isn’t just for juniors—both sides can learn from it.

• Seniors learn fresh perspectives. Just like a child sees the world without bias, juniors often challenge outdated workflows.

• Juniors get real-world experience. No amount of theory beats seeing someone actually solve a problem in action.

• Both parties refine their thinking. The simple act of explaining decisions aloud forces clarity and structure.

The Downsides of Shadowing

Of course, shadowing isn’t perfect.

❌ It can be time-consuming—if not structured well, it might slow productivity.

❌ It doesn’t work for everything—some roles require doing rather than watching.

❌Some people don’t like being observed—it can create pressure and impact natural workflow.

But these are minor issues compared to the benefits. The key is to use shadowing strategically and keep sessions focused.

Shadowing is a two-way learning loop. Juniors gain real-world experience, seniors gain fresh insights, and both refine their thinking—leading to structured, strategic growth.

Final Thoughts

Shadowing is one of the most underrated tools for accelerating growth. It taps into how humans naturally learn—not through instruction alone but through observation, repetition, and iteration.

And if the Collective Brain study proves anything, it’s this:👉 A single genius might create an idea, but a well-connected team turns it into a movement.

So if you haven’t tried shadowing yet, give it a shot. You might be surprised at what you learn.