5 Ways to Create a Culture of Learning in Your Workplace

By Intellezy

July 18, 2022

The employee is having fun watching video tutorials.

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

Table of Contents

What Is A Culture Of Learning

According to the Association for Talent Development, a “culture of learning” or “learning culture” is “one in which employees continuously seek, share, and apply new knowledge and skills to improve individual and organizational performance.” And with 86% of employees saying it’s important for employers to provide learning opportunities, a culture of learning is quickly changing from a “nice to have” to a “need to have” in order to effectively engage and retain employees. 

Business leaders and executives who want their organizations to thrive, and not merely survive, should strive to create a learning culture in their companies. Here are a few straightforward ways that you can work to create a learning environment in your workplace. 

Why Embrace a Culture of Learning at Your Organization?

Establishing a culture of learning at your company is beneficial to your team and your organization. Some of the core benefits of a learning culture include:

  • Increase engagement: The data shows that employees want to learn. According to a Gallup study, 57% of workers want to update their skills, and 48% would consider switching jobs to do so. When your company maintains a culture of learning, your team is more engaged and more committed to your organization as a result.
  • Encourage a growth mindset: According to Dr. Carol Dweck, developing a growth mindset can lead to putting in more time and effort for greater achievements. When your employees have this mindset, they can take their work to new heights.
  • Boost motivation: Hand in hand with engagement and a growth mindset is increased motivation. As employees learn new things and achieve more with what they've learned, they feel more empowered and motivated to take on the next project.
  • Keep up with change: The modern world is constantly changing, especially when it comes to new technology. When you establish a culture of learning, your team will be ready to tackle the next big change in tech and processes as your company moves with the tides.
  • Improve creativity and innovation: A huge aspect of innovation is a willingness to accept failures, which is a natural part of learning. With a learning culture, you can build a resilient team of creative and innovative professionals who break new ground for your company.
  • Heighten soft skills: Learning expands far beyond hard skills, like knowing how to use a new computer system. It also helps professionals develop soft skills, like communication, leadership, and conflict resolution, that can be incredibly valuable for leadership roles.

How to Build a Learning Culture

Establishing a culture of learning takes continuous and intentional effort from your leadership. 

1. Make Learning a Core Value at Your Organization 

Most organizations have a mission/vision statement and a list of core values. These are the guiding principles that represent an organization’s highest priorities, exemplify its most deeply held beliefs, and fundamentally drive the organization. To foster a culture of learning, organizations should clearly define learning as one of their core values, with leadership communicating this throughout all levels of the organization.  

2. Design and Implement a Structured Learning and Development Program

One of the strongest and most impactful ways to create a learning culture in your organization is through a structured learning and development program. A structured learning and development program provides employees with a formal framework for learning and growth, empowering them with the support and resources needed to acquire the skills that will allow them to thrive in their roles and help their organization succeed.  

An effective Learning and Development program is personalized and targeted, taking into account individual and organizational skills needs, identifying competencies, analyzing skills gaps, establishing goals, offering formal training opportunities to employees, incorporating assessments to ensure knowledge retention, and often allowing self-directed learning. Such a program rewards businesses both in terms of culture and in terms of profit: according to the Association of Talent Development (ATD), companies offering comprehensive training programs realize 218% higher income per employee than those without formal training programs

3. Encourage Knowledge Sharing 

Humans are inherently social beings. With this in mind, leaders who want to create a culture of learning must recognize and take advantage of the opportunity to incorporate learning into the day-to-day social interactions of employees. In fact, according to a 2022 study, 32% of employees believe training should be more social in nature. Executives and managers can and should encourage employees to share knowledge and new information among their teams and peers each day so that all involved are engaged in continuous learning. This open communication will encourage and empower team members, helping to create a learning culture that is both collaborative and authentic. 

4. Provide Opportunities for Learning On-Demand

In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving world, the average worker spends less than 25 minutes a week on formal learning. This is NOT because workers don’t want to learn. In fact, 71% of workers say that job development and training increase their job satisfaction, and 61% say upskilling opportunities are an important reason to stay at their job. It is clear that workers WANT to learn and grow, but many times it seems they’re just “too busy” and can’t fit this into their workweek.

By utilizing eLearning and training videos, companies can provide employees with opportunities for them to learn on-demand, at any time, from anywhere, and at their own pace. Expertly crafted eLearning videos can convey key information in an engaging and interactive way, while also giving workers the freedom to learn whenever it is convenient for them.  

5. Lead by Example 

Last but not least, organizational leadership should exemplify the culture of learning they wish to cultivate through their own direct behavior. If executives and other leaders are committed to their own continuous learning and personal/professional growth, this will influence other employees to follow suit. By being open about specific learning goals, discussing training experiences, listening to and accepting constructive criticism and other feedback, and reflecting on their own mistakes, leaders can help foster the culture of learning that will help bring success to their individual employees and business as a whole.   

Our Approach to Creating a Learning Culture

At Intellezy, we understand that a culture of learning improves employee engagement, increases employee retention, fosters innovation, and drives businesses forward. For over 30 years, we’ve helped businesses create learning cultures that enable efficiency, productivity, and growth. Our online video library of over 10,000 expertly crafted eLearning and training videos has won several awards and has been recognized by top thought leaders, including Training Industry, The Craig Weiss Group, and eLearning Journal. Our custom eLearning capabilities allow you to provide tailored video content for your team’s unique training needs, providing them with the support and resources needed to excel in their roles. In addition, we also creatively design, develop, and execute all stages of training, empowering your team to broaden their skillset, feel happier at work, and add value to your organization. 

Get in touch with us at info@intellezy.com to learn how we can partner with you to create a culture of learning in your organization. 

Create a Learning Culture With Intellezy

Intellezy is your source for eLearning content that gives your team the opportunity to pick up new skills at any time. Our learning solutions feature employee training videos, AR/VR, custom eLearning programs, and much more. These tools make it easy for your team to sharpen existing skills and learn new ones in considerably less time than traditional classroom settings. Explore our full selection of solutions today to see how Intellezy can support your learning culture.

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