So many leaders say that they value lifelong learning and that their workplace is one of continual learning, and yet sometimes their actions differ from their words. Is your company a learning organization? We’ve developed a 5 question quiz to help you figure out if the company you’re at or that you’re considering joining is indeed a learning organization.
The Learning Organization Quiz
- 1. When a project ends, what do your colleagues immediately do?
- a) Cross it off your list and move on to the next project.
- b) Reflect on what went well and what you would change for next time.
- 2. When someone takes a risk that doesn’t turn out well, what happens to that person?
- a) Their story is used as an example warning against taking risks.
- b) Their story is used as an example of what we get to learn from taking risks.
- 3. Super high performers in your organization are:
- a) Given more of the same kind of work because they are so good at it.
- b) Asked to coach others on the team so that the overall skill level can improve.
- 4. Which statement do you hear more at work?
- a) This is what we did…
- b) This is what we learned…
- 5. Employees are evaluated for:
- a) The contribution they made to the profit margin.
- b) The effort they put into their work.
Interpreting Your Results
The more “b” answers you have, the more likely you are part of a learning organization. Such organizations prioritize growth, learning from experiences, and collective improvement over mere task completion and risk aversion.