Does your organization know how to learn? In a world dominated by the ability to process information, the ability to learn, as an organization, is crucial. Here are five ways you can create a learning organization:     
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1. Encourage self-directed learning for employees. Instead of telling people what to learn, give them permission to explore what they think is important. Provide resources like access to information, the Internet, time off, and tuition reimbursement, if possible.
2. Promote cross-pollination of ideas. Bring together team members from different departments to share ideas and strategies. Encourage people to respect different opinions and points of view so meetings produce thoughtful, innovative results.
3. Use open-ended language. In your meetings and discussions, ask questions that stimulate creative thought and learning without simply focusing on finding “correct” answers. If you can say, “Let’s explore that further,” you’ll show everyone on your team that you consider striving for improvement more important than a single “right” answer.
4. Treat mistakes as learning opportunities. Hold honest, straightforward conversations when something doesn’t work as anticipated. Look for lessons that might improve the process next time, as well as ideas for new processes that might result in an innovative product.
5. Review the learning process. On a regular basis, ask team members what’s working and what isn’t. With this information, get to work on fixing what doesn’t work and enhancing what’s going well.

A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. They looked harmless and gentle. They greeted her and introduced themselves by the names Wealth, Success and Love. “Well, those are interesting names," she said. "Why don't you come in and have something to eat?”

“You may only invite one of us,” they replied. “But if you will discuss with your family which of us it should be, we will be grateful for whoever it is.”

The woman went in and told her husband what they had said. Her husband was delighted. “How nice!” he said. “Since that is the case, let’s invite Wealth inside!"

His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success? Surely that will lead to wealth and make us the envy of our neighborhood.”

Their daughter chimed in, “I would rather have Love.” She was so sweet, and the couple loved her so much, they laughed and said, “Yes, let’s invite Love to eat with us.”

The woman went out and asked the three old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.”

Love got up and walked toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady said: “I only invited Love. Why are you all coming?”

The old men replied together, “When you invite Love into your house, you also get both Wealth and Success.”
 
~Antonio Stringfield