Learning in Organizations

In a complex, information-rich, and dynamic organization, effective leadership requires continuous learning. Traditional approaches focus on power, influence, and motivation as the keys to leadership. These are important factors but prove less consequential in today’s environment. Contemporary leaders rely on learning to navigate complexity and novelty. This is learning-directed leadership. Learning-directed leadership offers strategies to aid leaders as they learn from their experiences, constantly update their viewpoint, and challenge themselves and others to create new knowledge. Leadership involves learning in a rapidly changing, complex, and challenging environment. This chapter draws on examples from the medical profession and the financial industry to illustrate the importance of learning-directed leadership. The examples show how today’s leaders learn in organizations. The basis of leadership is shifting from positional power, formal authority, and influence to knowledge, expertise, and creativity. The chapter explains how leaders in many different types of organizations achieve the learning advantage in information rich, high-stakes, and changing environments.