How do you maintain an environment that gets the best from your employees, whether they are analytical thinkers, team decision makers, lone rangers, risk-takers, or bottom-line seekers? You can support each type of employee with a flexible environment. You will reap the benefits of innovation and maximize performance when your employees operate in a climate that builds their success. In a “learning organization,” employees are encouraged to tackle stretch assignments, challenge ineffective processes, and offer innovative solutions with confidence.
Below is a list of best practices to create an effective learning organization.
- Provide freedom to try new methods
- Balance the pressure of deadlines with opportunities for innovation
- Provide realistic, but challenging goals
- Encourage participation in decision making and goal setting
- Encourage the use of creative problem solving for unstructured problems
- Encourage open expression and innovative ideas
- Encourage risk taking and buffer negative forces
- Provide help in developing ideas
- Provide time for individual efforts
- Listen effectively and watch for nonverbal signals
- Minimize direct supervision as much as possible
- Provide resources and support priority work to completion
- Foster interaction and cooperation with other work groups
- Encourage lifelong learning and professional growth
- Provide continuous training and development opportunities for your employees
- Tell your employees frequently that you have confidence in their abilities
- Provide timely performance feedback
You May Also Want to Read:
