Building a Strong Learning Culture: Lessons from Agile Leadership

A colleague recently attended a talk by Sir Robert Winston on how adults learn, which inspired me to explore the topic of learning within organisations. In this article, we’ll examine why participants on leadership programmes often struggle to implement what they learn, why successful leaders are also great learners, and how organisations can build a robust learning culture.

Why Leadership Programme Participants Struggle to Implement What They Learn

Leadership development is a critical investment for many organisations, with millions spent globally to nurture future leaders. Yet, despite this investment, leaders often struggle to implement what they learn. This isn't always due to poor programme quality; rather, it's because leadership skills are truly developed through practical experience and real-world application.

At Excel Communications, we focus on experiential learning. We design leadership programmes with the following key elements:

• Real-life exercises: Basing training on actual work situations.
• Modular training: Allowing participants to apply skills in real business contexts between sessions.
• Project-based learning: Encouraging participants to implement their learning and present outcomes to their peers.

However, even with well-designed training, leaders need to continue learning and adapting as they encounter new challenges. Those who learn continuously often become the most effective leaders.

Why Good Leaders Are Good Learners

Successful leaders share a common trait: a hunger to learn. But what makes a good learner?

• Growth mindset: Great leaders set challenging, specific learning goals, such as improving their communication style to suit different team members.
• Practice: They experiment with different approaches, refining their skills through practical application.
• Self-awareness: Good learners are honest with themselves, reviewing their actions and results, identifying what works and what doesn’t, and adjusting accordingly.

This continuous process of learning, adapting, and refining is a hallmark of strong leadership. Imagine the potential of an entire organisation adopting this approach to learning.

How to Build a Strong Learning Culture

Google is often cited as a company with an exceptional learning culture. So, what can we learn from their approach?

1. Deliver Information When It’s Needed

People learn best when they can access information in manageable chunks at the right time. By making learning materials available on-demand and in different formats, you can cater to various learning styles. For example, providing product updates via mobile devices can help sales teams access essential information on the go, right when they need it.

2. Create a Culture of Sharing

For learning to be truly effective, information must be shared openly within the organisation. Implementing systems such as intranets, project management tools, or even shared documents can facilitate communication and collaboration. This not only enhances learning but also encourages transparency and teamwork.

3. Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity

Failure should be seen as a stepping stone to success. When things don’t go as planned, instead of giving up, organisations should investigate the reasons behind the failure and use those insights to improve. For example, a failed product launch may provide valuable lessons that lead to a successful relaunch.

4. Promote Continuous Learning

A strong learning culture incorporates both formal and informal learning opportunities. This could include traditional training, coaching, e-learning, mentoring, and project work. The goal is to empower employees to take ownership of their learning, moving away from mandatory training towards self-directed development.

Today’s technology offers endless opportunities to learn, from podcasts to webinars, making it easier than ever to build learning into even the busiest schedules.

In conclusion, building a learning culture requires more than just providing training - it’s about creating an environment where learning is continuous, mistakes are opportunities for growth, and information is readily available. By adopting these principles, organisations can empower their teams to not only learn but to thrive.

Many thanks,

Nic & The Excel Team

P.S. If you would like to discuss any of your other learning & development challenges, book in your discovery call.

About Excel Communications

Excel Communications is a learning and development consultancy based near London in the U.K. For more than 30 years; we have been collaborating with clients across the globe.  

Partnering with Excel empowers you to evolve your people and business by fuelling a love for learning.   

We work with you to create unforgettably, customised learning experiences to achieve your vision of success and growth, with tangible results.   

View our case studies here.