learning how to build a learning culture

The rise of Generative AI is quickly reshaping the world as we know it right in front of our eyes. Many organisations and industries, including ours, want to adopt this transformative technology to drive cost optimisation, innovation and revenue growth.

In a recent round table chat, I was asked what I thought was the single most important attribute for our company that would have the most impact on the future success of our Group? Without hesitation, my answer was ’our ability to build and sustain a learning culture’.

If we were properly equipped with learnability as individuals and organisation, we would be able to quickly benefit from responsibly deploying Gen AI across the company to transform how we work, to innovate and to achieve further personal and professional growth.

As we navigate the dynamic and evolving landscape of our energy industry, it is imperative that we foster a culture of continuous learning that is intertwined with our sustainability strategy, culture of care and core values so we can #enhancethebrand to be the partner of choice in current and future energy markets and deliver accretive value to all stakeholders.

Establishing and sustaining a learning culture requires a thoughtful strategy and concerted efforts throughout an organization while being honest and acknowledging that we are not as good as we think we are. Every organisation can benefit from redefining its vision and core values, managers leading by example at every level, nurturing a growth mindset in all colleagues, rewarding curiosity and positive learning behaviours, hiring complementary competencies with the right attitude and learnability skills, and from introducing proper reliable metrics and surveys to track progress.

• Leading by example: Leadership plays a critical role in cultivating a learning culture. As leaders, we must embody the dedication to continuous learning and set a compelling example for the entire organization by regularly investing in our own personal development and advocating for the same within our teams to reinforce this commitment.
• Promoting a growth mindset: Fostering this mindset begins by acknowledging and rewarding positive learning behaviours across the Group. Most colleagues will be more inclined to embrace new challenges and opportunities if and when they perceive that their learning and growth are genuinely valued and recognized.
• Supporting customer-centric innovation: Establishing a supportive environment where employees listen carefully to customers to invent solutions and feel comfortable taking risks is essential. Encouraging experimentation, investing in innovation and learning quickly from mistakes facilitates continuous re-invention and accretive growth.
• Encouraging proactive collaboration: Learning and knowledge-sharing thrive in collaborative environments. Breaking down silos and encouraging employee contributions and real teamwork can amplify collective learning. This can be fortified by establishing special interest groups that can benefit from deliberation, mentorship and peer-to-peer learning.
• Providing diverse learning opportunities: Promoting self-learning and prioritizing personal and team development through various company-wide strategic initiatives, cross-functional roles and individual career aspirations, and gamification will all improve performance and results without the need to only rely on formal and sometimes antiquated training programs.

At KCA Deutag , our vision and updated WE CARE core values should help guide our learning culture forward to empower our workforce and to improve innovation and operational excellence.

It is easier said than done, maybe. But insisting on perfection can sometimes hinder progress and prevent implementing good valuable improvement initiatives. By embedding these guiding principles and behaviours into daily routines, building trust and requiring reciprocity from whom we care for, we can nurture and forge a future where learning and growth are central to our DNA, remain ready, equipped and motivated to tackle customer and industry challenges, and propel any organisation successfully into the future.

As always, readers are invited to share their insights and comments below.

Be safe, stay healthy and pay attention to your wellbeing.