News
Should Employers Implement a Culture of Learning?
13th May 2020
The 2020 Workplace Learning Report
According to this report recently published and compiled by LinkedIn, to build a culture of learning is fundamental within any existing workspace.
This has the merit of improving employees’ engagement and productivity within the workplace. LinkedIn goes as far as producing a comprehensive research model focused on how the culture of learning improves both performance and general morale within different companies including MGM Resorts International and Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis.
With 58% of learning and developing professionals expecting to spend more on online learning platforms and increasing their budget to facilitate this (37%), it is apparent that to create a culture of learning should be at the core of every company’s long-term development plan.
Benefits of implementing a culture of learning
But what are the benefits of implementing a culture of learning? These can be multiple and varied, and, according to LinkedIn, the following ones are the most common:
- Productivity
- A better, healthier mindset leading to more positive company morale.
- Major flexibility when it comes to being more adaptable to change
- A better general employee satisfaction
Opportunities for leaders
Learning leaders should start creating more opportunities when it comes to training initiatives by making training and development plans mandatory and formalised, working on marketing and promoting learning initiatives, establishing a process based on sharing knowledge and information, welcoming feedback and, finally, giving recognition to those embarking on a learning journey. Leaders should also consider having friendly competitions and recognising accomplishment as part of building a culture of learning, something employees’ motivation could definitely benefit from.
According to LinkedIn, the culture of learning is finally starting to getting some recognition with 83% of executives supporting learners and their ongoing training.
Importance of recognition
LinkedIn, particularly, found that employees thrive following recognition from their manager—especially younger learners with 36% of people from the 22 to 36-year-old bracket admitting they would spend more time learning if it was recognised by their manager.
Despite this, only 27% of learning professionals admit being actively championed by their CEOs, something that, according to LinkedIn, constitutes the next opportunity within companies and their approach to establishing a more engaging and efficient culture of learning, something that could bring long-term benefits to both employees and employers alike.
