Wheatley is a writer, teacher, and speaker whose area of expertise is organizational leadership in chaotic times. In an online interview with Scott London she tells the story of her relationship with the Army. It is an organization, she writes, that \u201chad never been part of my belief system or my politics, actually.\u201d As a person who studies organizations, she came to believe that \u201cthe Army is more interested in learning from its experiences than any organization (she) had ever been in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reason the Army is such a successful \u201clearning organization\u201d is summarized in a statement by the aforementioned colonel: \u201cWe realized a while ago that it\u2019s better to learn than be dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whoa! That seems to me to be wisdom that more than a few individuals, as well as organizations would do well to heed. It is wisdom that can apply to couples in relationships; to governments from small town to national; to multinational corporations; and, since this is a \u201creligious column,\u201d I would be remiss if I did not include to religious groups.<\/p>\n
Learning \u2013 it doesn\u2019t sound that hard. But there are challenges that precede our0 ability to learn. The first of these, and maybe not the least, is to believe what the Army knows \u2013 that death is an option. As individuals, none of us doubts that we will die someday. We do, however, tend to avoid this bit of truth as often as we can.<\/p>\n
In the same way, organizations can begin to think they will go on forever, never considering they could die. Those who are outside the organization sometimes even buy into this delusion. Who hasn\u2019t heard, \u201cthey are too big to fail?\u201d There\u2019s nothing more sobering than living with the presence of death, like the folks in the Army do. It not only brings into focus what is truly important, it can also open doors to learning new ways of thinking, acting and even being.<\/p>\n
Our resistance to change provides another challenge to our ability to learn. We all need something that is familiar or predictable or gives meaning to our lives. Whether it is a maxim, a teaching, a scientific fact, or what we\u2019ve been told is an eternal truth, we cling to it tightly, especially when we sense it is losing credence or authority in the world around us. We tend to grasp onto it even more tightly when, in the silence of our hearts, we are the ones who begin to wonder if what we had thought was immutable might be wrong. Cognitive dissonance is the enemy of \u201cthe way it has always been.\u201d<\/p>\n
We humans don\u2019t like change. We are uncomfortable with ambiguity. We want to feel as though we have the answers, even if we don\u2019t. Wheatley is adamant that \u201cWe\u2019re not in cultures which support learning; we\u2019re in cultures that give us the message consistently: \u2018Don\u2019t mess up, don\u2019t make mistakes, don\u2019t make the boss look bad, don\u2019t give us any surprises.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Maybe this is what J. was referring to when he said, \u201cTruly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.\u201d (Matthew 18:3) Who, more than little children, revels in exploring, trying, and testing everything \u2026 and cares not one whit if it succeeds or not? And surprises? The more there are, the greater the delight. For little children it\u2019s all about learning.<\/p>\n
Wheatley quotes Mort Meyerson who says that for us to have \u201clearning organizations\u201d we need leaders whose first task is \u201cto make sure the organization knows itself.\u201d Leaders as mirrors \u2013 a concept that is in distinct contrast to \u201chow it has always been.\u201d<\/p>\n
In our religious organizations where Father (or the equivalent) has historically always been right; in our political organizations where the Fathers of countries have historically been set apart; in the corporate world where the captains of industry have tended to rule; and in our personal relationships where TV has told us \u201cFather knows best,\u201d maybe the future is calling us to organize ourselves in what for us are new and creative ways. Learn or die. We have a choice.<\/p>\n