Group items tagged

hy forward thinking? Because I think that hierarchical learning isn’t conducive, in fact is obstructive to creating businesses fit for purpose for innovating within disruption. I think the behaviours it creates slows down people’s learning as they go higher up ‘the ladder’, limits their behavioural flexibility and creates a culture where people are afraid to challenge the status quo. And what do I mean by networked learning? I think this has something to do with letting go of words like ‘expert’ and accepting that we are all learning, all of the time. And I think if we can do this, and ask any question without fear, we can shake things up and make things happen.

So how could companies themselves encourage and create a safe environment for networked learning? A few ideas: 

Cultivate a culture of celebrating failure

And I think that’s probably a result of how it was initially rolled out. In some places it’s led to a lack of understanding around how everyone can make an ESN work for them – using it to meet their specific challenges and in a way that best suits each individual. It’s definitely not a question of trawling through a live feed to find something that may or may not be relevant to them, an ESN, used properly, is so much more than that. And it’s up to us in our team to really bring that story to life for each employee. A mammoth task with over 100,000 of us! 

One word: COLLABORATION. With our size, geographic scale and employee numbers an ESN, with all the opportunities for collaboration that it affords, is a game-changer.   

1. Learning arcs

2. The importance of reflection

Without trust there’s less innovation, collaboration, creative thinking, and productivity, and people spend their time protecting themselves and their interests – this is time that should be spent helping the group attain its goals.