How do you view your learning? You attend a really great course - gain lots of new knowledge and insights - and then what?
When you are back in your work place - do you have that sinking feeling that your new knowledge will be like a small drop of water in a large ocean - one splash and it's gone?
If you do feel like that OR you believe that's "just what happens around here" - trust me - it doesn't have to be!
Imagine that your newly gained knowledge is still that drop of water BUT instead of a creating a splash it creates a ripple effect - ever increasing - across your organisation. How powerful would that be for you and your colleagues?
But how do you make it happen?
Firstly, share your new thinking with your colleagues. Talk about how, together, you might best apply that knowledge in your projects - already the ripple has started.
Try it out - and share the results in a lessons learned forum, a lunch & learn, or even more simply, while having a coffee!
By talking and sharing you will uncover further new approaches that will benefit you, your colleagues, and your projects.
If your company doesn't have a 'formal' project and programme community - think about setting up an informal sharing network with your colleagues - use the power of social media - you don't have to be in the same office for this to work well.
Of course there are many techniques and approaches you can use, which become more effective and valuable as the ripple widens. You may have heard of the 70:20:10 approach to learning in which:
The value of this approach is gained from the sharing and applying of your personal knowledge.
I have added some of the potential approaches in the image but there are many more and some will need your manager's support to make it happen - so don't forget to talk to them too.
I have been working in the project and programme environment for over 20 years and one of the most valuable lessons I have learned is to continually look for ways to enhance my capability. I'm still learning even after all this time!
Finding effective ways to become more capable and professional is in your hands. And the very best environment to achieve improvements and demonstrate results is in your work place.
Just try it and see!
However if you are not sure how to go about it or would like to find out more about how the ripple effect could be of benefit to you and your colleagues please do contact me. I can always be reached via email me at JNichols@citi.co.uk
Jane Marshall-Nichols
COO, CITI Limited
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