Unleash your employees creativity
I recently had a meeting with the Executive director of a potential client about helping them set up a training center and a training process for their teams. They have been in business for many years now and there has been a hollow in their employee learning and development programs.
I found them candid and there was an earnest interest to get the facility up and running ASAP and offer employees the right environment to learn, perform & grow.
While we formalized on what, when and how to’s of the assignment, I was also shown the space that had been identified as the training center. The room was clean and basic but the walls appeared naked. So, we spoke about decorating them with some ready made motivational stuff that include wall posters, customer service graffiti, great quotes of leaders etc. Then a flash just crossed my mind – Hang on…just as much as the owners are keen, the employees need to be involved in their own learning and development and it starts with them. So, I suggested that we talk to the employees from each department and let them unleash their creativity to decorate different sections of the wall that will provide a motivating environment for them and their co-workers. That way we could also discover some hidden talents in the form of artists, poets, interior designers and may be even to help the company in it’s re branding efforts. The Management found the idea cool and hopefully it should pay off.
Pixar which is well known for making blockbuster movies like Finding Nemo and Toy Story is a great example of a company that provides a great learning and development environment. They set up what they call as Pixar University (PU). One would certainly expect them to conduct classes on movie making. They do that YES and also classes in Sculpture, drawing,singing, pottery, theatre and more.
When Randy Nelson, the Dean of PU was asked how teaching employees pottery or singing will help Pixar, he said:
We have made the leap from an idea-centered business to people-centered business.
Instead of developing ideas, we develop people
Instead of investing in ideas, we invest in people.
We are trying to create a culture of learning, filled with lifelong learners. It’s no trick for talented people to be interesting, but it is a gift to be interested. We want an organization filled with interested people.
