You learn when you Share

When you Share, you Learn - Did you know that I have other colleagues on my staff email list? I share almost everything I do with other people (newsletters, professional development, meeting presentations, agendas, goal presentations, etc.). My goal is that I engage in conversation about my work because I LOVE to learn and get better. For some reason, I don't have a fear to share my work. Maybe it is because I have experience; maybe it is ignorance; maybe it is because I'm okay with vulnerability. Either way, I learn best through collaboration and I'm willing to take that risk in order to learn. However, I often need to feel trust with those I share it with.

Admittedly, there is not always trust when I initially share things. But, sharing can lead to trust. However, if there is judgement from others that couples their feedback, that immediately breaks the trust. Therefore, it is a fragile and delicate process to be collaborative. Trust among teams and staff helps make us better because it allows for vulnerability to share, learn, and grow - and reciprocally others to do the same. It is a goal of mine to feel the confidence to be vulnerable to learn through sharing and make mistakes without judgement!

I think people take comfort in knowing that I am on a learning journey as well. Don’t get me wrong, they need to have confidence in my competence. However, knowing that I’m not perfect and on journey to learn and get better makes them feel comfort in their own growth. Austin Kleon is an artist and author. In his article, When I share, I Learn, he talks about how people take comfort in learning together.

Questions to help understand how you and other learn:

• What is the culture of learning?

• How do you learn?

• What are structures are in place to help others learn?

• Is it an acceptable and encouraged practice to ask questions?