Articles

Learning Communities Work at Work

Jana M. Kemp

Learning never stops when workplaces foster ongoing learning opportunities. The benefits for individuals are that they learn new information and skills and can be more creative and more productive in their work. The benefits for organizations include greater innovation and productivity when employees are continuously learning.

In order to foster a learning community in your workplace, consider the following options and select one or two for immediate implementation or participation.

Industry Association Memberships. – Sometimes referred to as trade associations, these groups focus on one business or one skill-set of work. State chapters affiliated with national organizations often hold monthly meetings for business and learning, as well as sponsoring regional and national conference learning events.

Chambers of Commerce. Many chambers now also offer workshops and learning sessions that run over a lunch hour or even for a portion of the day. Topics presented include communication and management skills.

Better Business Bureau. In order to prevent fraud in your business place, to improve customer service skills or other retailing skills, contact the Better Business Bureau for their class offerings.

Staff Meetings. Regular staff meeting agendas can include time for education presentations, for discussions around new ideas, for problem solving customer concerns, and for discussing specific topics that employees have been asked to come prepared to present.

Brown-Bags or Lunch & Learn events. Many organizations sponsor these internally so that employees can sign up for a monthly experience around a new topic. Employees bring their lunches and employers provide the speaker, who is typically from outside of the organization.

Company-oriented book club. Some companies have taken a book club approach to prompting discussions and learning. Book topics focus on work-related issues ranging from global economic and business trends to skill and industry specific texts.

After-hour social clubs for playing cards or sports can count as learning communities too. Why? Because when people learn more about themselves and each other in organized non-work yet potentially competitive situations, they are learning how to more effectively interact with each other at work.

Encourage employees and coworkers to keep learning. A stagnant mind leads to a stale workplace. And stale workplaces lead to unhappiness, work-hazards, and to employee turnover.

Action Item: Incorporate weekly, dedicated learning opportunities into your workplace. Invite an industry-related speaker to your organization for a 30 minute presentation in the next two weeks and see what new ideas spring forth.
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Reprint Permission: The author is willing to grant reprint permissions. Please contact Jana Kemp: jana@janakemp.com or call 208-367-1701.