[non-tech] Iceberg Method: my simple strategy for learning anything

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone asks you to explain a concept you know well, but you find it difficult to explain it clearly?? There’s that long pause, as your mind races to connect the dots and figure out where to even begin. It’s not that you don’t understand the concept; it’s just that breaking it down into digestible pieces can feel confused not only that but also you have to consider the listener’s ability to grasp it whether start from very basic or from an advance level. Have you thought about a solution for this challenge?

‘OR - Another challenge'

Ever found it difficult to learn something complex and ended up quitting after the first try?

I’ve often faced these challenges, when it comes to upskilling—whether it’s diving into a new technology and struggling to get started or learning something only to find it hard to explain and share with others. Over time, I’ve tried different strategies to overcome these hurdles, and one approach has consistently worked for me. I call it the "Iceberg Way of Learning."

What is it ?

The idea is simple: whenever we’re learning something new, remember that everything in the world can seem complicated, but we don’t need to dive into the complex, in-depth details of everything right away. Instead, focus on taking one step at a time, building knowledge layer by layer. Think of it like how moms organize kitchen appliances—everything has its place. If she needs salt, she knows exactly which drawer to open and where in the drawer the salt box is kept. Similarly, with the Iceberg Way of Learning, we arrange our knowledge systematically in simple way so we know where we need to search when its required.

Start with a simple explanation of the concept—that’s the tip of the iceberg. Once you understand that, add the next layer with slightly more detailed information. Each new layer builds on the one before, gradually making your understanding deeper and more structured. Over time, this method helps you organize what you learn into a clear mental map, making it easier to recall and connect ideas without feeling overwhelmed.

iceberg map of learning about “Rain” will be something like below:

How to practice this ?

1. The initial layer needs to be too simple enough to grasp, so you can start building that sense of progress and curiosity, which makes you eager to add the next layer of knowledge.
   example, if you are learning about the rain then keep this as your first layer I.e

   Layer-1: “Rain is water fall from the cloud”.

   What’s next?

2. Once you’ve learned the basics of something, it’s time to ask questions to deepen your understanding. Simple questions like why, how, when, and who can help you explore further. For example, if you’ve learned that water evaporates, you can ask: Why does it evaporate? How does it happen? When does it happen most? Who discovered it, and why does it matter? Another important question is: Do I really need to go in-depth here?

   In most cases, the first layer of knowledge is enough. You don’t need to master everything—just focus on what’s relevant to you. For example, as an SRE, diving deep into Kubernetes might help my career and also aligns with my interest. But for a topic like the atom bomb, it’s enough to know what it is and its impact. I don’t need to study nuclear fission or chemical formulas unless I’m genuinely interested.

   The key point is: most topics only require knowing the first or second layer of the iceberg. Time is limited, so you should know when to stop. But if you’re passionate about something, there’s no harm in diving deeper! For instance, I once spent an entire day comparing dragons—their strengths, weaknesses, ages, and more—after watching the second season of “Dance of Dragons”. Did it help my career or future? Definitely not. But did I enjoy it? Absolutely!

   So, it’s a personal choice. At every stage, decide whether to explore the next layer of the iceberg or move on to a bigger, more interesting one that truly matters to you.

3. This is the third stage, where you start exploring the answers to the questions you asked in the second stage. Here, you build the next layer of knowledge, going beyond the basics. As you move forward, keep asking the same types of questions about this new layer. With each question, your understanding deepens, and the knowledge becomes more detailed and connected. This process gradually takes you from surface-level awareness to a more intricate understanding of the topic.

4. Final stage or I would call it as Infinity stage:

   Repeating the second and third stages over and over will eventually take you to the submerged part of the iceberg—the deeper layers that only a few people explore. Reaching this stage is the path to mastering a technology or concept.

How doest it helps to solve the challenges which I mentioned while starting this post

Challenge 1: Explaining a concept you know well but struggling to articulate it clearly

The Iceberg Way encourages you to structure your knowledge in layers. When you’ve already built these layers in your own understanding, it becomes easier to assess where the listener stands. Start with the tip of the iceberg—the simplest explanation. Gauge their response, and if they seem comfortable, you can gradually dive deeper into the submerged layers, offering more advanced insights.

This approach also helps you adapt to the listener’s expectations, whether they need just the basics or a deep dive. By organizing your thoughts into a layered structure, you reduce the mental chaos and deliver a clearer, more tailored explanation.

Challenge 2: Struggling to understand something complex and giving up after the first try

In this situation, the Iceberg Way helps by breaking the topic into manageable layers. You start with the simplest, most basic understanding—something that feels easy and achievable, like stepping onto the first foothold of a mountain. This gives you a sense of progress and accomplishment.

Once the first layer is solid, you build on it by asking questions like why, how, and what if to create the next layer. By focusing on gradual progress, you avoid feeling overwhelmed and stay motivated to keep exploring deeper layers of knowledge over time.

In the end, this approach just works for me, which is why I decided to share it here. Maybe it all seems too simple, or perhaps it's not something that necessarily needs a post like this. Maybe it’s just me overthinking it—I'm not sure. But this method has naturally become one of my go-to strategies for learning and remembering, and it’s working really well for me. If this helps you in any way, that’s great. If not, feel free to ignore it and find what works best for you.

"We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself." – Lloyd Alexander

📚 "Stay in the know! Subscribe to the blog for the latest insights on tech trends, SRE/ DevOps and Cloud strategies, and more. 📚#StayTuned
- Site Reliability.in