Stay Productive by Learning in the Flow of Work 

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

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

Productivity has been a buzzword ever since the pandemic. It emerged in [reports](https://www.forbes.com/sites/curtsteinhorst/2025/04/17/return-to-office-its-not-about-productivity-its-about-power/) that showed 87% of hybrid workers thought they’d maintained or _improved_ productivity (and a similar percentage of leaders fearing they hadn’t).  

But there’s another challenge. How does a workplace continue developing skills and knowledge **without disrupting** productivity? 

Simple, you seamlessly integrate learning moments into daily work routines. It’s the concept wildly growing in popularity - **"learning in the flow of work"** and it’s suiting busy employees and leaders who don’t want to treat professional development as a completely separate activity.  

In this article, we briefly look closer at learning in the flow of work.

Seamless Integration of Work and Learning 

Learning in the flow of work means acquiring new skills and knowledge during regular work activities, without stopping the flow of productivity. Instead of removing employees from their work environment for training, you [create a culture of learning at work](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/create-a-learning-culture-at-work?campaign_id=701RG00000b3PZHYA2&promo=Blog&type=Affiliate), bringing learning opportunities directly into daily tasks and schedules. 

[Josh Bersin](https://joshbersin.com/2018/06/a-new-paradigm-for-corporate-training-learning-in-the-flow-of-work/), who popularised this term, describes it as "learning that happens in the moment of need." Rather than setting aside large blocks of time for formal training sessions, professionals access **bite-sized learning resources** exactly when they need them, making the learning immediately applicable and relevant. 

#### Joining the dots

Growth Faculty’s Head of Learning Barbara Harvey says learning in the flow of work can also look like joining the dots from recently learned material applied in your ways of working.  

“If you can catch yourself applying something you have recently learned, a framework, a conversation starter, a grounding exercise, or a new way of being productive, then you become more conscious of integrating learning in your day-to-day work,” she explains.  

“You learn to exercise your learning muscle, and you signal to your brain that there is a reward for learning new things.

What is Learning in the Flow of Work? 

**Time Efficiency** 

One of the most significant advantages of this approach is **time savings**. Traditional training often requires employees to set aside full days for workshops or courses, creating backlogs of regular work and potential stress upon return. When learning happens within the workday, employees don't face this productivity disruption. 

Growth Faculty's live virtual sessions are specifically designed with this time efficiency in mind. Scheduled to fit within normal working hours and condensed to deliver maximum value without excessive time commitment, these sessions allow professionals to learn from world-class experts without sacrificing an entire day. 

**Enhanced Engagement** 

Learning in the flow of work offers a welcome mental shift from routine tasks. This change of pace helps maintain focus and interest, especially when trying to [learn with reduced attention spans](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/attention-span-and-learning-is-faster-always-better?campaign_id=701RG00000b3PZHYA2&promo=Blog&type=Affiliate). Just as taking a break can improve productivity, shifting to a different type of mental activity - such as a focused learning session - can refresh the mind and spark creativity. 

Participants in Growth Faculty sessions frequently report that the mid-day learning experience serves as a productive break from their regular tasks, allowing them to return to work with renewed focus and fresh perspectives. 

**Immediate Application** 

When learning happens close to the point of application, retention improves dramatically. Research shows that people retain information better when they can immediately apply what they've learned. 

Growth Faculty client [SERV found this to be true](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/serv-leadership-development?campaign_id=701RG00000b3PZHYA2&promo=Blog&type=Affiliate), with employees acknowledging an uplift in the way their managers and leaders were actually performing their roles after attending learning sessions. 

In this way, learning in the flow of work creates a shorter gap between learning and application, making the knowledge more likely to stick. 

**Higher Participation Rates** 

When learning opportunities fit seamlessly into the workday, participation rates increase. If you've got good [talent density](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/the-talent-density-secret-for-creating-high-performing-teams?campaign_id=701RG00000b3PZHYA2&promo=Blog&type=Affiliate) in your workplace it's likely many of your employees will want to develop their skills but struggle to justify taking entire days away from pressing responsibilities. By removing this barrier, learning in the flow of work makes professional development more accessible. 

Growth Faculty has seen consistently strong attendance rates for their virtual sessions precisely because they're designed to complement rather than compete with daily work responsibilities. A one-hour session with a world-renowned thought leader becomes a feasible commitment even during busy periods.

Benefits of Integrated Learning 

**Timing Matters** 

Effective learning in the flow of work requires **strategic timing.** The best learning moments often come at natural transition points in the day - mid-morning or early afternoon when energy levels remain high but a mental shift is welcome. 

Growth Faculty's virtual sessions are typically scheduled during these optimal windows, providing a purposeful pause in the workday rather than an interruption. This thoughtful timing helps ensure participants can be fully present and engaged. 

**Relevant Content Delivery** 

For flow-of-work learning to be valuable, content must be immediately **relevant and applicable**. Generic training rarely delivers the same impact as targeted learning that addresses current challenges or opportunities. 

By featuring experts who focus on practical, applicable insights rather than purely theoretical concepts, Growth Faculty ensures participants can connect what they're learning to their actual work challenges. 

**Community Learning Experience** 

Though learning in the flow of work often brings to mind self-directed, solitary experiences, it can also include collaborative elements. Group learning experiences that fit within the workday combine the [benefits of social learning](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/sociallearningleadershipdevelopment?campaign_id=701RG00000b3PZHYA2&promo=Blog&type=Affiliate) with practicality. 

Live virtual sessions create a sense of shared experience and community learning, even when participants join from different locations. This shared experience enhances engagement while maintaining the convenience of flow-of-work learning.

Making Learning in the Flow of Work Effective 

Organisations increasingly recognise that future success depends on constant adaptation and skill development.

With a[rtificial intelligence becoming emeshed in work culture](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/the-ai-revolution-and-culture?campaign_id=701RG00000b3PZHYA2&promo=Blog&type=Affiliate), learning in the flow of work supports this need for ongoing development without creating **unsustainable demands** on time. 

By making learning a regular part of work rather than an occasional event, both individuals and organisations become more [adaptable](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/6-ways-to-adaptable-leadership?campaign_id=701RG00000b3PZHYA2&promo=Blog&type=Affiliate). When learning becomes habitual and integrated, professionals develop the "learning muscle" needed to continuously evolve their skills. 

Growth Faculty's approach of bringing world-class thought leaders directly to professionals throughout the year supports this philosophy of **continuous, accessible learning**. Rather than treating professional development as a once-a-year event, participants can engage with cutting-edge ideas on an ongoing basis, building future readiness one session at a time.

Future Readiness Through Continuous Learning 

Learning in the flow of work represents a practical solution to the ongoing challenge of professional development in a time-constrained business environment.  

However, our Head of Learning Barbara Harvey says to create meaningful outcomes from “learning in the flow of work” she’d recommend leaders have an active self-reflection practice that becomes a weekly ritual. 

“In that ritual should be self-reflection about what has been learned, what has been applied and the degree to which it worked or didn’t, creating an ongoing learning loop.”

Conclusion 

Want to keep up with the latest ideas and thinking from the brightest minds in the world?

Download our blockbuster [2025 Program](https://ideas.growthfaculty.com/l/1071223/2024-06-12/5q9w34)! Growth Faculty’s live virtual learning sessions feature some of the world's most influential thought leaders in business and leadership, many of them focusing on AI, change leadership, and adaptable leadership.

Events are added regularly, so keep up to date by signing up for [our newsletter](https://ideas.growthfaculty.com/l/1071223/2024-07-24/5qfgl1) and see what’s on offer for [Growth Faculty members](https://join.thegrowthfaculty.com/#plans).

Growth Faculty also offers a great value [Enterprise plan](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/#plans) for larger companies to develop leadership skills in teams of 20 or more employees.

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Stay Productive by Learning in the Flow of Work

Keep productivity high while upgrading your skills to be future-ready

Keep informed
Stay Inspired

Stay Productive by Learning in the Flow of Work

Keep productivity high while upgrading your skills to be future-ready

Keep informedStay Inspired

Keep informed
Stay Inspired