Implementing LO principles from a non-management perspective LO21228

Bill Harris (billh@lsid.hp.com)
Thu, 8 Apr 1999 09:53:31 -0800 (PDT)

Replying to LO21199 --

Tony wrote:

> So, my question is this: How can someone from a non-managerial position
> help to implement the principles of a learning organization? In
> particular, has this ever been done with Japan companies in Japan?
>
> I have approach one of my managers about this. His idea is "we should all
> communicate more". My big problem with this is that _people do not really
> know how to communicate effectively_. I suggest training in communication.
> However, his experience with training is that 60% or more is worthless.
> (This is most likely true since I myself believe that a lot of training
> out there doesn't really produce long-term, meaningful results.)

I agree that "communications" can be an amorphous topic.

I've gotten lots of help in improving my communications skills (not in
Japan) by reading books by Chris Argyris. He gives many examples of his
interventions, and they have helped me understand what he's trying to do.
I must note that it took me reading 2, 3, 4 or more of his books before I
began to catch on, but that may be me (OTOH, I have heard him referred to
as "Chris Arduous", so I know there are some bright people out there who
don't necessarily find him an easy read). I have also used this approach
in work I've done with others; see the Winter, 1998 issue of National
Productivity Review (pp. 37-42, especially the section on the people
system).

While the ladder of inference mentioned in Senge's work is one of the
tools Argyris uses, I confess I didn't really catch on well without
Argyris' explanation.

Another good reference: Peter Block's "Flawless Consulting." If you take
his definition of consulting as getting someone to do what you want when
you don't have a power relationship over them, you may see how it can
apply.

Bill

-- 
Bill Harris                                 Year 2000 Program Office
mailto: bill_harris@am.exch.hp.com          Hewlett-Packard Company
phone: (425) 335-2200                       M/S 330C
fax: (425) 335-2483                         8600 Soper Hill Road
web: http://hpweb.lsid.hp.com:8080/~billh/  Everett, WA 98205-1298 


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