How a Learning Culture at Work Can Future-Proof Your Business 

Surviving Rough Waters: Jim Collins's Frameworks For Tough Times

How Talent Density Creates High-Performing Teams

_“Getting educated is your job. You need to start now.”_ – Geoff Woods, _“The Ai-Driven Leader.”_

If ever there was a time to build a learning culture in your workplace, that time is now.

Addressing leaders [integrating artificial intelligence](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/becoming-an-ai-driven-leader-the-strategic-framework) into their businesses, author Geoff Woods puts it bluntly: _“This is not something you can wait any longer on \[just\] because there is a learning curve.”_

In other words, learning curves should be something we _actively seek out_ by building a **culture of learning**. Great businesses keen on [surviving rough waters](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/jim-collins-proven-frameworks-for-uncertain-times) make learning their priority, not just their “good intention.”

Below we look at what a culture of learning is, examples of great learners, the benefits of learning, and where you can start in your own business.

Make Learning a Priority

A learning culture is a work environment where acquiring new knowledge and skills is _actively_ encouraged, valued, and rewarded.

Continuous improvement becomes _part of your company's DNA_ rather than an occasional training initiative. In learning cultures mistakes are viewed as **opportunities** to learn rather than **failures** to punish.

According to [research](https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/deloitte-review/issue-16/employee-engagement-strategies.html) from Deloitte, organisations with strong learning cultures are 92% more likely to develop novel products and processes.

Culture of Learning Definition

As Geoff Woods says, learning helps place you “among forward-thinking pioneers who are shaping the future of leadership itself.”  

When learning becomes embedded in the **flow of work**, the workplace becomes a laboratory for growth when leaders model curiosity and create [psychological safety](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/whatispsychologicalsafety).

A 2024 LinkedIn Workplace Learning [Report](https://learning.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/business/en-us/amp/learning-solutions/images/wlr-2024/LinkedIn-Workplace-Learning-Report-2024.pdf) found that providing learning opportunities was the number one retention strategy for surveyed companies.  It quotes Comcast VP, Learning & Development (CLO), Sara Dionne as saying “If a company invests in learning today, they will have more engaged and impactful employees ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.”

Culture of Learning in the Workplace

Some of the world's most innovative companies have made learning central to their success:

*   **Microsoft** transformed under CEO Satya Nadella with his "learn-it-all" instead of "know-it-all" philosophy. They introduced their "Growth Mindset" initiative where employees are encouraged to view challenges as opportunities to grow rather than threats to avoid
*   **Google** famously created the "20% time" policy, allowing employees to spend one-fifth of their work hours on projects they're passionate about—resulting in innovations like Gmail and Google Maps
*   Global gaming giant **Evoke** runs “talent clubs” and says [developing effective future leaders at scale](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/evoke-develops-leaders-with-growth-faculty) is crucial to their success
*   **Unilever** boasts on its website: Ongoing learning is at the heart of our culture – and our commitment to helping people stay fit for the future of work. “We have a duty to help our people adapt to the impact of evolving technologies and ways of working,” it says
*   **Lloyds Banking Group** has created "Digital Academies" to upskill employees across technical and non-technical roles as part of their digital transformation strategy

Business researcher and _"Good to Great"_ author Jim Collins's research shows that great organisations balance continuous learning and experimentation with continuous discipline. He explains this in his "roadmap to greatness" masterclass that focuses on sustained excellence.

Culture of Learning Examples

Most importantly, successful businesses recognise that learning isn't a cost centre but a strategic investment. According to the Towards Maturity benchmark [report](https://www.cipd.org/globalassets/media/knowledge/knowledge-hub/reports/driving-th12345-e-new-learning-organisation_2017-how-to-unlock-the-potential-of-land-d_tcm18-21557-1.pdf#:~:text=The%20New%20Learning%20Organisations%20respond%20faster%20to,to%20develop%20and%20keep%20the%20best%20people.&text=Organisations%20who%20track%20in%20the%20top%2010%,the%20rest%20of%20the%20sample%20of%20600.), top-performing organisations are five times (5x) more likely to have a learning culture that responds quickly to business change.

Learning cultures thrive when businesses:

1.  Align learning initiatives with business objectives
2.  Have leaders who role model learning
3.  Make learning resources easily accessible
4.  Create time and space for reflection and application
5.  Measure and celebrate learning outcomes

Culture of Learning in Business

L&D professionals play a crucial role in cultivating learning cultures, moving beyond traditional training delivery to become strategic partners. The CIPD's 2020 Creating Learning Cultures report recommended that L&D professionals at all levels reframe ‘learning culture’ as the **‘environment’** for learning.

Yet a 2025 Growth Faculty [survey of L&D professionals](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/survey-learning-industry-experts-share-challenges) found that while **72%** of respondents said their organisation has a defined learning strategy, only **19%** believe it is _truly embedded_ in their culture.

The barriers are persistent: lack of time, lack of executive buy-in, and weak links between learning and business strategy.

The [future of learning](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/what-is-the-future-of-workplace-learning) and development strategies incorporate diverse learning methods, such as the curated live learning experience offered at Growth Faculty to its self-serve personalised learning journeys that feel relevant rather than prescribed.

Culture of Learning and Development

Learning doesn't happen in isolation. Research from the Harvard Business Review shows that 55% of effective workplace learning happens through social interaction and collaboration. A strong learning culture encourages knowledge sharing through:

*   Communities of practice where employees with similar interests can exchange ideas
*   Cross-functional projects that expose team members to different perspectives
*   Mentoring relationships that transfer tacit knowledge between experienced and newer employees

British telecom giant BT implements "Learning at Work Weeks" where employees share skills and knowledge with colleagues through informal workshops and presentations.

**Learning that Sticks: Social Learning**

Barbara Harvey, Head of Learning at Growth Faculty, says “I think we need to go back to the origins of what remains in our minds and what's unforgettable. And that is community, that is social learning, that is storytelling and deep human connection.”

According to [TalentLMS](One%20way%20to%20create%20a%20socialized%20learning%20community%20is%20to%20use%20Andy%20Lancaster%E2%80%99s%207%20Cs%20model:), a socialised learning community can be created with **Andy Lancaster’s 7 Cs model:**

It comprises seven key elements:

Learning Culture and Social Interaction

Learning is one of [the triggers for “flow”](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/workinflow) and high performance. According to work flow expert Steven Kotler, ideally you want to be performing at 4% above your skill set to know that delicious feeling of being “in flow.” Organisations that successfully foster learning cultures enjoy numerous competitive advantages:

*   **Better leverage from tech**: A 2023 [article](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-innovative-companies-leverage-tech-to-outperform) by McKinsey said organisations with innovation cultures realise more value from tech investments to outperform their peers.
*   **Greater adaptability**: “Adapt” author Andrea Clarke, in our [adaptability masterclass](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/key-insights-from-work-futurist-andrea-clarke), said that people adapt more easily to change by constantly learning
*   **Higher engagement**: According to University of Technology in Sydney, [research](https://plus.uts.edu.au/resources/learning-at-every-level/) shows that organisations with strong learning cultures have engagement and retention rates that are between 30-50% higher than those without.
*   **Better talent attraction**: LinkedIn's Workplace Learning Report found that 94% of employees would stay longer at companies that invest in their development.

In today's knowledge economy, your organisation's ability to learn might be its most sustainable competitive advantage. By intentionally cultivating a culture where learning thrives, you're not just developing employees but future-proofing your business.

Benefits of a Learning Culture

To finish up, here are five practical steps to get started:

1.  **Lead by example**. Senior leaders must visibly participate in learning activities and share their own growth journeys. When executives talk about books they're reading or courses they're taking, it signals that learning is valued at all levels
2.  **Create dedicated learning time**. [Research](https://www.sap.com/resources/learning-in-the-flow-of-work#:~:text=%E2%80%9CLearning%20in%20the%20flow%20of,engaged%20and%20feel%20more%20successful.) from Josh Bersin shows that employees who have time specifically allocated for learning are 3.8 times more likely to engage in development activities. Consider implementing "lunch and learn Wednesdays" or dedicated learning hours blocked out in your employees' work day
3.  **Recognise and celebrate learning**. Acknowledge employees who apply new skills or share knowledge with colleagues. This could be as simple as shout-outs in team meetings or as structured as quarterly learning achievement awards
4.  **Provide diverse learning resources**. According to PwC's Workforce of the Future [report](https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/workforce/publications/workforce-of-the-future.html), 74% of workers are ready to learn new skills or _completely_ retrain. Offer a mix of digital courses, workshops, peer learning circles, and external conference opportunities to cater to different learning styles
5.  **Measure what matters**. Track not just completion rates but the impact of learning on business outcomes. For example, [Australian software company Aurion](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/aurion-case-study) says leaders will refer to insights learned at Growth Faculty in leadership meetings when the company discussing challenges

Remember, building a learning culture is a journey, not a destination. Start small, be consistent, and watch how a commitment to growth transforms your organisation from the inside out.

Where to Start

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How a Learning Culture at Work Can Future-Proof Your Business

Benefits of a culture learning include innovation and leveraging tech investments

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How a Learning Culture at Work Can Future-Proof Your Business

Benefits of a culture learning include innovation and leveraging tech investments

Keep informedStay Inspired

Keep informed
Stay Inspired