If learning is not an “event” but rather a life long process, where do workers best learn the skills and knowledge they need to perform effectively in their jobs?

According to Jay Cross author of Informal Learning – Rediscovering the Natural Pathways That Inspire Innovation and Performance – they learn more in the coffee room than in the classroom. In other words informal learning in the workplace is they best and most cost effective way to learn.

According to Jay, “they discover how to do their jobs through informal learning: talking, observing others, trail and error, and simply with people in the know. Formal learning – classes and workshops – is the source of only 10 to 20 percent of what people learn at work. Corporations over invest in formal training programs while neglecting natural, simpler informal processes”. His book describes how visualization, impromptu conferences, organizational network analysis, conversation space and communities of purpose fuel innovation and agility. In short, Jay believes that “informal learning is generally more effective and less expensive than its formal counterpart”.

Jay’s blog on informal learning is found at http://informl.com/ - check it out for more ideas on how workers learn most effectively and efficiently.

McKinley Solutions Exchange is very pleased introduce our new affiliation / associate firm Chris Mathers Inc ( www.chrismathers.com)

An internationally recognized and acclaimed corporate management and security consultant, Chis is a master storyteller and dynamic public speaker. He has perfected the art of weaving his message through an engaging and entertaining story line. He message and stories draw on 20 years of experience as an undercover agent with the RCMP; he has also worked for the FBI, Interpol and Scotland Yard.

In the corporate arena, Chris consults on International Business Risk and Travel Security, Computer Crime and Internet Security and Finance. He also set up and ran the Corporate Intelligence Division for one of the world’s largest forensic accounting firms.

One of our colleagues used to have a quotation as part of his signature “When you stop learning, you stop leading”. We also hear a lot about “learning organizations”. Most would agree that learning is important (if not critical) at both an individual and organization level – so how do we become effective and efficient learners? Furthermore, is learning an event or life long process?

Earlier this month, Tom Haskins (http://growchangelearn.blogspot.com/2007/02/learning-by-flowing.html ) share his thoughts about “learning by flowing”:

“Learning can be a struggle to overcome confusion, disorientation or misunderstandings. Learning can likewise fall into place effortlessly. Toddlers picking up twenty new words a day without “drill and practice” provides an image of learning by flowing.”

Over the years “I’ve gotten the sense there is a flow to go with when we are learning…To find this flow, I’ve learned to let go of what I think I should be reading. By not knowing what, when or how much to learn, I am open to happenstance and fluctuations of mood.  

…This flow embodies perfect timing. The sequence of what I’m interested in develops my understanding superbly. The timing of when I become curious about something — happens to coincide with when I’ll soon need to know that, have a use for it or have access to further exploration of it..

…As Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi reveals in his book about Flow, this flowing embodies the “joy of learning”. There are no problems with motivation, endurance or obstacles. Challenges are welcomed and accomplishments occur with ease…

…The learning takes over whenever I get out of the way, as if the learning has a life of its own. Learning falls into place when I get with the program and stop “pushing the river”. Learning happens easily when I’m wise enough to not know what’s next….

We live in interesting times – the world around us is in a state of constant change. The workplace environment is not no different; it too is in a state of constant change.

To survive and thrive in the workplace, learning does become a life long process.

To become effective and efficient learners, we need to learn to “go with the flow”.