Ep 159: How To Create An Organization Where Everyone Is Engaged In Learning

My conversation today is with Rebecca Chandler, the Chief Learning Officer and Global Director of the Learning Group at Steelcase. We are talking about real life examples of what Steelcase is doing to promote learning and development, how learning has evolved over the past few decades and how leaders and managers can role model the desired learning behavior in their organizations.

Rebecca Chandler is the Chief Learning Officer and Global Director of Learning and Development at Steelcase. Steelcase is a global organization that provides furniture solutions that reflect what they've learned about human behavior. It employs about 14,000 employees.

Chandler is charged with making Steelcase the pacesetter for learning organizations worldwide. Steelcase looks to her team for learning solutions that are linked to the needs of the business, and to progress in creating learning that is globally integrated and holistic in nature. Learning is embedded in the culture of their organization, Steelcase views it as just another way for their employees to "love the way they work".

A Chief Learning Officer is usually with tasked thinking about the learning infrastructure to support the local culture and goals. They look at the curriculum, what the organization is focused on, how people share learning and how to speed up learning.

Steelcase education is on an evolution. They offer a lot around active learning. They understand that people need to engage in a variety of ways. They have a "Think, Make, Share" program.

The 'Think' gives people a chance to do pre-work. This is often called a 'flipped classroom'. This leverages the time when people are together.

'Make' includes the time together which provides opportunities of creating projects with feedback from an expert.

'Share' is about learners/employees going back and teaching others. This solidifies the knowledge they've gained. Other times they may be asked to do some sort of action project.

Steelcase's learning programs fit into one of these 4 buckets:

1. Leadership
2. Culture
3. Innovation
4. Functional Excellence

Technology in education – learning systems push content to the organizations. There is a need to understand how people are using technology and then design from that perspective. Technology should enhance the learning.

Role of culture in learning- Culture and learning go hand and hand. We like to develop curriculum that aligns with culture

Role of physical space in learning – Providing opportunities for people to use space creatively. At Steelcase they consider the entire building a living laboratory.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What a Chief Learning Officer does
• How the world of learning has changed
• The role of technology in education
• Real life examples of what Steelcase is doing to promote learning and development
• How leaders and managers can role model the desired learning behavior in their organizations.