Mahatma Gandhi rightfully said “Live likeyou are going to live for a day, learn like you are going to live forever”.
Every day life gives you many moments to
learn, but there are very rare times that life demands from you to deliver, to teach.
It’s in these moments that you truly live for yourself and more importantly for
the mankind. It’s these moments that define your very existence in this world
and which make you immortal albeit even if it’s in one man’s heart.
learn, but there are very rare times that life demands from you to deliver, to teach.
It’s in these moments that you truly live for yourself and more importantly for
the mankind. It’s these moments that define your very existence in this world
and which make you immortal albeit even if it’s in one man’s heart.
When a person is involved in the noble act
of imparting knowledge to others, his own knowledge gets augmented in the
process. His understanding of knowledge becomes extensive with every stage of
providing education. Thus teaching when its is called as a way of paying
forward has the hidden idea of receiving backwards.
of imparting knowledge to others, his own knowledge gets augmented in the
process. His understanding of knowledge becomes extensive with every stage of
providing education. Thus teaching when its is called as a way of paying
forward has the hidden idea of receiving backwards.
The role of a teacher is quickly becoming
an expansive one. Today anyone who can or will impart any kind of skill set can
be called a teacher. The corporate world has known to react to this aspect in a
highly sensitized manner. They are aware that if an organization requires
learned employees it also needs well endowed teachers. And what better than to facilitate
an employee operate as both.
an expansive one. Today anyone who can or will impart any kind of skill set can
be called a teacher. The corporate world has known to react to this aspect in a
highly sensitized manner. They are aware that if an organization requires
learned employees it also needs well endowed teachers. And what better than to facilitate
an employee operate as both.
An organization, big or small thrives on
its continuous learning cycles. The fast changing trends of the industry has
made the corporate realize that an evolving workforce contributes to agility
and thereby sustained success.
its continuous learning cycles. The fast changing trends of the industry has
made the corporate realize that an evolving workforce contributes to agility
and thereby sustained success.
“You’re only as strong as your weakest
link”
link”
An organization’s success is a direct
result of their employee’s efficiency. And we know this that an employee’s
efficiency is an offshoot of his core competencies. These core competencies are
not always his education or innate skills sets. They are more often than never,
knowledge gained through experience and more importantly training.
result of their employee’s efficiency. And we know this that an employee’s
efficiency is an offshoot of his core competencies. These core competencies are
not always his education or innate skills sets. They are more often than never,
knowledge gained through experience and more importantly training.
Thus in an organization maintaining ahealthy learning cycle is of prime importance.
Senge said that “a learning organization is a group of people working together
collectively to enhance their capacities to create results they really care
about”. In his book “Fifth Discipline” he has very eloquently explained that
the five pillars of a learning organization are Systems thinking,
mastery, Mental Models, Shared Vision, Team Learning.
To help understand these five pillars
better, let us go through a story (a real one!):
better, let us go through a story (a real one!):
Way back in college third year of my
engineering, I decided to start a youth magazine. My passion for writing had
taken me to places, where I realized that market today doesn’t cater much to
the youth in print media. So I decided to capitulate on this opportunity.
engineering, I decided to start a youth magazine. My passion for writing had
taken me to places, where I realized that market today doesn’t cater much to
the youth in print media. So I decided to capitulate on this opportunity.
The first thing I had to decide upon was to
build a team.
build a team.
I had a set of friends, whom I knew I had
to employ, so basically I didn’t have the liberty of choosing a team I had a
team already.
to employ, so basically I didn’t have the liberty of choosing a team I had a
team already.
To make them effective, I had to build a
team into them. I had to understand their inter personnel relationships and
help them improve the same. In this process of improving linkages of my team, I
was improving the team’s effectiveness. This is called “System thinking”. How
did I do it? I tagged two people at a time on a single task. And for one whole
week I changed combinations. So ultimately all of them had a working
relationship to begin with.
team into them. I had to understand their inter personnel relationships and
help them improve the same. In this process of improving linkages of my team, I
was improving the team’s effectiveness. This is called “System thinking”. How
did I do it? I tagged two people at a time on a single task. And for one whole
week I changed combinations. So ultimately all of them had a working
relationship to begin with.
Some wrote beautiful words but couldn’t do
much more than that. And then there were those who couldn’t string a phrase
together, but knew how fast to generate the moolah for us. Identifying people’s
competencies was quick. But a holistic understanding was required for success. Once
in every week, we would have learning and sharing lessons where everyone taught
something and learnt a lot in return. This is what we call “personal mastery”.
much more than that. And then there were those who couldn’t string a phrase
together, but knew how fast to generate the moolah for us. Identifying people’s
competencies was quick. But a holistic understanding was required for success. Once
in every week, we would have learning and sharing lessons where everyone taught
something and learnt a lot in return. This is what we call “personal mastery”.
We fast improved in all aspects. And our
readership began to touch 10000s (which was a big deal for us!). Our team grew,
our processes same. But suddenly we felt we were not as effective. So we
realized we need to indentify centralized goals for the entire team. Like what
market segment, what sales target and what percentage of feedback return from
readers. Thus we together decided upon a framework for us as a group and
decided to implement it through discussions and evaluations. This is called
“Mental modes”.
readership began to touch 10000s (which was a big deal for us!). Our team grew,
our processes same. But suddenly we felt we were not as effective. So we
realized we need to indentify centralized goals for the entire team. Like what
market segment, what sales target and what percentage of feedback return from
readers. Thus we together decided upon a framework for us as a group and
decided to implement it through discussions and evaluations. This is called
“Mental modes”.
But then once these goals and framework were
decided, people in the team often found themselves clueless as to what their
contribution was in terms of the same. Thus began a process of alignment of
personal goals with the whole holistic approach of the group. For example, if
we had to double our readership in two years, every sales team member needed to
set a target of 5000 a month for themselves. This is whatP eter means by “Shared Vision”.
decided, people in the team often found themselves clueless as to what their
contribution was in terms of the same. Thus began a process of alignment of
personal goals with the whole holistic approach of the group. For example, if
we had to double our readership in two years, every sales team member needed to
set a target of 5000 a month for themselves. This is what
Once the aspect of aligned goals became
clear to people, conflicts began. Why? A team’s collective goals trickled down
to generate people’s personal goals. But in most situations these derived goals
were either too high or too different in nature to achieve. Thus began the last
aspect. A common group dialogue to decide upon an integrated goal which
generated personal goals agreeable to all. This required a lot of discussion
and understanding in the group itself. This is known as “Team learning”.
clear to people, conflicts began. Why? A team’s collective goals trickled down
to generate people’s personal goals. But in most situations these derived goals
were either too high or too different in nature to achieve. Thus began the last
aspect. A common group dialogue to decide upon an integrated goal which
generated personal goals agreeable to all. This required a lot of discussion
and understanding in the group itself. This is known as “Team learning”.
The
magazine went on to achieve certain milestones but eventually ceased to print
and circulate. But what we learnt as a group is what remains with us even now.
magazine went on to achieve certain milestones but eventually ceased to print
and circulate. But what we learnt as a group is what remains with us even now.
very well written essay….congos for your winning entry…
thanku mr agarwal 🙂