Seven Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Learning Organization

Mistake No. 3: Doing Everything Yourself

The principle of subsidiarity is the idea that the central authority should only perform those tasks that cannot be performed effectively at a more immediate or local level. The same holds true of your learning organization. In a decentralized organization, everything that can be done better by a decentralized function should be done by the decentralized function. Everything that can be done better by the centralized function, the centralized function should do. Be clear about what your organization can and should do and what it shouldn’t do. Too often, leaders waste energy, recycle discussions and misalign in this area.

Mistake No. 4: Being Weak

CLOs need to be strong people who can stand the heat, because they will certainly be under a lot of pressure. The CLO needs to be resilient, tough and protective. He or she is in fact a first line buffer to issues that could at some point affect the entire learning organization. However, always put content first. Your product should speak clearly for you as CLO. Also, at this level in an organization, the CLO has a role that is both political and functional. You’re called on to be astute and to build influence through relationships and results.

Mistake No. 5: Being a Bureaucrat

To be blunt, don’t become a bureaucrat within your own organization. Too much bureaucracy kills learning functions and hinders entrepreneurial spirit. Make it a goal to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy as much as possible. Of course, we all have to comply 100 percent with company standards and practices. But getting things done is essential. You have to produce something. Don’t waste your resources on unnecessary reports, meetings, evaluations and processes. Analysis should be done quickly and clearly.

Mistake No. 6: Embracing Flavor-of-the-Year Programming