Learning is Transforming
The concept of a learning organization has always intrigued me ever since I studied the topic in graduate school. A learning organization is a company that facilitates the learning of its members and continuously transforms itself. The concept was coined through the work and research of Peter Senge and his colleagues. Peter Senge wrote the book, The Fifth Discipline and developed five key characteristics of a learning organization:
Systems Thinking
Personal Mastery
Mental Models
Shared Vision
Team Learning
The organization I work for is a learning organization primarily because it embodies all five key characteristics. But also, it is continually transforming itself into a newer iteration. This process is innovative, energetic, and dynamic. And not without it's fair share of lessons learned. Now it's your turn. Think of a time when you were learning something that ultimately stretched you and made you a better version of yourself. What elements were present that made the learning possible for you? Who were the people who served as your mentors, whether formally or informally? How did you apply the new learning to the current setting? What were some of the challenges you faced as you stretched to the new level? Answering these questions serve as a beacon of light for the new path you will find yourself traveling.
How we show up in the world is in correlation with how well we are learning and ultimately transforming into newer versions of who we are. Think of the dynamic change a caterpillar makes to transform itself into a butterfly - a completely different species. Metamorphosis is a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means. Someone once said that our bodies are losing cells and growing new ones each day. So, in many ways we are naturally shedding the old to make room for the new. In this same vein, we can approach how we show up in the world as a chance to view each new day with a posture of receptivity to the lessons brought to us by unexpected teachers.