The Hypocrisy of Learning

I am learning that the L&D function sometimes creates its own problems with justifying our worth within organizations.  We are the part of an organization that is supposed to facilitate a learning culture.  In many cases, we don’t even work in what would be considered “learning organizations”…we don’t walk the talk.  If we don’t even live by the mantra that we’re supposed to lead, how in the world are we supposed to be viewed as credible or trusted advisors.  Let’s get specific, by asking a few questions.

How can we…

• be trusted to be performance consultants, if we don’t identify our own causes for performance problems or create strategies for addressing areas for improvement?
• use mistakes as opportunities to learn, if we are super critical of anyone who isn’t perfect?
• foster innovation and creativity, if we create environments where people are afraid to try new approaches or methods?
• create creative blended learning solutions to close knowledge and skill gaps, if we don’t even develop our own employees using blended learning solutions?
• assist our customers in reengineering business processes, if our processes aren’t effective?
• develop leaders within our customer organizations, if we don’t develop our own L&D leaders?
• perform task analysis for our customers , if we aren’t able to describe, step-by-step what we should be doing?
• create change management strategies for our customers, if we don’t use change management strategies?
• promote learning, but we don’t do anything to grow in our profession?

We as L&D professionals have enough challenges with trying to explain how we can add value to our customers.  Let’s not have to spend our energy explaining what we do to each other.  Make it a point to learn something new about the L&D profession.  If you need a little help, take a look at some of the ways that I continue to grow and develop in my April blog posts, Take Responsibility for Your Own Development, Part 1 and Take Responsibility for Your Own Development, Part 2.  I challenge all of you to make an effort to grow in our profession…do something to enhance your career and better your organization…let’s eliminate the hypocrisy of learning.