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Training is not learning. Training is something you hire other people to do to you. Learning is something that you do. Start building a learning culture now in your print business; it is the only defense to the acceleration of change in our industry.
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About Jennifer Matt
Jennifer Matt is the managing editor of WhatTheyThink’s Print Software section as well as President of Web2Print Experts, Inc. a technology-independent print software consulting firm helping printers with web-to-print and print MIS solutions.
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Discussion
By Robert Godwin on Apr 28, 2021
Jen,
"Learning is a personal responsibility thing, not an event."
This point is critical for the Owners of a business to understand. It should be explained in the hiring process and re-emphasized in quarterly/annual employee revues. Perhaps an important question to ask any employee "What have you learned since your last review?"
The moment an employee grasps that learning is their personal 'value add', they can forge a career anywhere they choose. This isn't just for software, it's for every activity anyone engages in at job.
By Jennifer Matt on Apr 29, 2021
Robert
Couldn't agree more. A learning organization is an investment that impacts virtually every aspect of your business. My favorite personality trait of all time is curiosity. My favorite personality trait of employees is the willingness to learn (which usually means they are also curious).
Curious people who are willing to learn will adapt to changes and for sure everything is changing all the time, faster and faster.
By Eric Vessels on Apr 29, 2021
I remember reading The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge in the early 90s. It made a big impact on me and taught me a great deal about systems thinking as well as the importance of learning within organizations. One problem he points out is that we were taught to solve complex problems by breaking them down, but this often leaves us with an inability to see the whole system and the repercussions of or actions in solving the small problem on the larger one.
By Robert Godwin on Apr 29, 2021
Old cartoon from my days as a college professor (don't miss them...)
The dialogue:
"I taught my dog to whistle."
"I don't hear him whistling."
"I said I taught him. I didn't say he learned it"