Stealth Learning: The Aha! Moments That Stick
eliza hl
Published Date
For the past 10 years, we’ve talked about ‘aha! thinking’ and ‘overnight learning’—the way insights from our simulations continue to unfold long after the workshop ends.
Over the past year, we’ve refined a phrase that captures much of the learning that happens in an Income|Outcome workshop:
Stealth Learning.
What Is Stealth Learning?
Formal learning happens when an instructor teaches a concept directly:
"The balance sheet is a statement of what you have and where it comes from. It balances total assets against the sum of liabilities and equity."
Stealth learning, on the other hand, happens without formal instruction. It is deliberately untaught learning—built into the experience so that insights emerge naturally.
We believe the aha! moment is stronger when participants discover an idea or concept themselves, rather than having someone explain it to them.
How Stealth Learning Happens in the Simulation
Stealth learning occurs when learners:
- Figure out that when the (red) loans are coming due, they need to create a process to ensure they have (silver) cash available for payment.
- Realize that the budget isn’t just a tool for finance to control spending—it’s a way to see where the business is going and keep everyone aligned.
- Recognize that “the market is always happening.” To price a product or service effectively, they need to understand:
- More than cost structure—they also need to consider supply and demand.
- Cash flow implications—when will they get paid? Will they need to build inventory or expand capacity?
- Competitor dynamics—what are their strengths and weaknesses?
Stealth Learning Doesn’t End When the Workshop Does
One of the most powerful aspects of stealth learning?
It continues after the workshop.
In the days that follow, learners process their experience and begin integrating insights into their real-world roles. They start seeing financial concepts not as abstract rules but as part of everyday business decisions.
And that’s when the learning truly sticks.
Let us know how we can help you introduce stealth learning to your teams.
