Learning something new does not require enrolling in a certificate or a four year degree program.

Learning something new can be as simple as:

-watching the tutorial to open and use the new app, everyone was talking about; so you downloaded it to your phone.
-reading a post on a blog that offers leasing, maintenance or marketing tips and sharing it during the team meeting.
-finding a you tube video for a tutorial on a software application.
-checking out instagram for the advertisement for a marketing competitor.

This process creates an impression on team members, someone respected makes time for learning; self development or a practical application to solve a situation. If team members are creating goals for themselves, establishing the steps to move them along the career path; they observe and apply this example for their career development.

“If I want to succeed in this this industry, I need to learn about it.”

Skills and education are not achieved by osmosis. Attending seminasr, webinars, reading resource material provide a foundation for the practical day to day application. This translates the knowledge to a skill.

If leaders are not setting the learning example, reinforcing the value of training and learning, the team probably views their employment as a hourly job and is not invested to see training as career development.   Nor do they recognize the training as an investment by their employer in their future,.  Education as a requirement, generates little value.    A certificate is provided for the personnel file; and possibly the individual views the occasion as an opportunity to avoid the tasks scheduled for that day and a free lunch.

Encouraging learning can be as simple as sharing an explanation of a new app for a smart phone; a new technique learned on you-tube how to clean a bathtub or shower that is badly stained. A leader sets the example for the team. The age old excuse of being too busy, has long since been discounted. Everyone is busy, everyone has 24 hours in a day…and everyone is encouraged to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Reading or viewing something worth sharing with the team might take 10 or 15 minutes..information on any subject, or a solution to any problem is available via the internet.

When team members are scheduled for training, an explanation outlining the objective should be provided.  Upon completion, having the information shared with the balance of team reinforces the importance of the training.

Mentoring a learning environment can change the attitude of the workplace environment. Shared learning, skill development puts everyone on a path for advancement and development, viewing each day by the tasks accomplished instead of the hours on a clock.