Learning Organizations

Competition is at its peak. Survival is becoming difficult. However, some companies always hog the limelight and shine in their own spheres. With an impeccable track record, certain companies are always on their way up the profits graph. Recent surveys earthed certain interesting trivia about the successful and not-so successful companies. Amazingly, the infrastructure of the not-so unsuccessful companies is on par with the very successful companies. Talent, in human terms, is also not lacking in the poor performing companies. They follow the best talent management practices and offer the most attractive salaries to their employees. Such companies are digging to find the reason for the gap. The answer is an emerging concept called Learning Organization.

Organizations should fast transform into what is called as Learning Organization. The chief characteristics of a company that calls itself a learning organization are as follows.
1. Focus on growth over profits. Companies that focus on overall organizational growth and individual employee growth and development rather than concentrating on the short-term profits and increases in revenue. Companies encourage employees to indulge in what is called as self-development. Employees show enthusiasm to improve their skills and knowledge levels to excel in the sphere of their work and extend their expertise in related areas as well.
2. Knowledge sharing is the sole aim of the employees within the organizations. Employees are expected to frequently update the knowledge and share information with all the colleagues. In certain companies, information hoarding is considered a crime. Employees willing to grow and let others grow are the most sought after by such companies. Good team players make better leaders in the future. Companies are fast building upon the essence of team playing to groom good leaders in the future.
3. Attaining expertise is the singular goal of the executives at a learning organization. Employees are eager to master the various areas of work to creatively come up with innovative ideas to improve performance. Mastery of that particular field of work is not an easy task in the present situation of continuously evolving technological advances. The vast amount of information available on the internet is certainly helpful for individual employees to add to their knowledge base. Employees need to attend seminars, presentations, and workshops to showcase their knowledge and expertise.
4. Competitive effectiveness is the effort to constantly outperform competitors and ride on the success wave even in dire straits such as economic down turns. Continuous market analysis with constant focus on customer's interests ensures a perfect SWOT analysis to move ahead in the race. Competitive essence plays a vital role in determining the success of a company.
5. Differentiation between knowledge and skills. Apart from knowledge, continuous upgradation of skills is also essential. Skills with knowledge, dedication, and commitment make impossible goals simple to the organization. This attitude should be reflected by each employee across different levels of the hierarchy.

Companies have been bloating the fact that employees constitute their most important asset. It is easier said than done. Companies that signify the importance of human resources, hardly take steps to improve the human resources.