Introduction
The decisions made by leaders determine the success of an organization; they have the role of mentoring and creating a learning environment to enhance the performance of their teams.
The main difference between a leader and a manager is that leaders lead people while managers manage tasks; with this role, leaders must develop appropriate mechanisms of enhancing learning and staff participation in an organization Muller, J., (Maclean and Biggs, 2009). This paper discusses the most critical areas for leadership within the organization to concentrate on in developing effective learning processes.
Creating a positive Organizational culture
To have an environment favorable for learning, leaders must create a positive organizational culture that rewards success and efforts of an employee. When employees have invented or innovated something, the management should recognize them; this will motivate them learn more and innovate others.
Within teams, it is area that employees learn a lot amongst and from each other, leaders have the role of developing an orchestrate team that embraces team spirit. This will enhance knowledge and experience sharing that leads to learning of new traits and tactics by employees.
The leader should be delegating duties and power effectively to create an urge in his team members to learn and improve their skills. Toyota Motor Corporation has a culture that facilitates learning, the company even has a training institute where its employees can enroll for sponsored course, and this facilitates learning in the organization.
Enhancing appropriate human resources practice
Organizations with a well-structured human resources management enhance a learning experience, employees in such organizations are highly motivated and they have the will to develop themselves through learning process.
Human resources has the role of creating numerous training programs as demanded by the organization; team leaders has the role of advising the human resources on the trainings they will facilitate, this will enhance the growth of learning spirit in the organization.
Zappos shoe company has been successful in the business because of its effectively managed human resources; the internal customers enjoy some benefits which include are free medical care and lunches, free vending-machines, fully equipped-free library and a nap room; the policies aims at developing team spirit that facilitates learning of new tricks and tactics (Zappos Official Website, 2011).
Involvement of team members in decision-making
An efficient leader should involve his team in decision-making. Leaders have the role of implementing strategies, entrepreneurial and mandated with the role of creating a winning team. Different situations and organization calls for different leadership styles, thus management should ensure that they understand the kind of style that can be implemented in their organization.
When team members are involved in decision-making, they get a chance to learn from each other as well as from the leadership (Hornsby & Warkeoczeski, 2000). The success of Apple Inc has been attributed to a robust team that is willing to learn and in the process, it has developed numerous inventions and innovations.
How organizations should account for the societal aspects affecting organizational learning and knowledge
Organizations need to recognize that external factors/forces affect learning and knowledge development in the organization. To ensure that the effect is not negative, an organization needs to have good relationship with the external environment. To create good environment, a company need to be ethical in its processes and adopt corporate social responsibility activities; this will enhance the relationship that the company have with the external environment.
Culture within the environment of operation has an effect on an organizational learning and knowledge development, a company should develop culture intelligence programs to reduce the risk of contradicting the culture of internal and external customer, when this is done it will enhance learning within the organization (Meinolf, Ariane, John and Ikujiro, 2003)
References
Hornsby, T. and Warkeoczeski, L. ,2000. New roles for leaders: A step-by-step guide to competitive advantage. Franklin: Hillsboro Press.
Meinolf, D., Ariane, A., John, C. and Ikujiro, N.,2003. Handbook of Organisational Learning and Knowledge. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Muller, J., Maclean, R. and Biggs, H., 2009. The impact of a supportive leadership program in a policing organization from the participants’ perspective. Work, 32(1),Pp. 69-79.
Zappos Official Website, 2011. Zappos.com.