We are entering the most significant recession of our lifetime. Business is tough, and for people who manage and work in just about every type of industry, tougher times are looming for some years to come.
Whether we are aiming to survive, pivot or thrive in business, our biggest and most valuable asset are our people. Commentators suggest continuous business improvement and a more resilient workforce are required, but how can this be achieved; especially as downsizing and cost-cutting are so widespread.
Often underutilised or overlooked is the existing collective knowledge we have immediate access to inside our business. We sometimes overestimate our individual expertise and may not recognise or accept the importance and contribution of those around us. Transferring knowledge, skills, and even attitudes from one person to another either socially or professionally is part of our everyday life. The concept of peer learning legitimises this knowledge transfer and if implemented formally into the business creates momentum and accelerates collective learning potential.
We make ourselves better by learning and what better way to learn than sharing our knowledge with others. By example, at a recent networking event, an attendee offered that their software development company experiencing a downturn in workload asked their staff to start writing blogs. Unlocking this wealth of employee knowledge benefited communications and skills sharing internally, while externally showcased the thought leadership and organisational skills to a broader community of potential customers.
New ideas, better communication, and a happier, more engaged workplace are good outcomes of investing in a more structured learning process. Informal interactions and traditional training programmes are essential contributors to organisational learning. Adding competencies such as active listening and a problem-solving approach to enhance peer learning will positively contribute to better business performance.
Peer learning will contribute to many aspects of business improvement. New ideas, better communication, streamlined systems, more engaged workers, improved safety practices, positive wellbeing are just some of the outcomes. This can only positively and cost-effectively contribute to enhancing productivity and potential sustainability of the business.
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