As the first part of this chapter clearly showed us, today’s quick-changing business environment requires adaptability by managers and employees alike. That means “having employees who are able to think, relate, learn, and adapt continuously.”47 Work cultures geared to constant learning will be of critical importance.

Creating a learning culture starts with buy-in at the top. Organizational leaders must absolutely understand what it takes for a learning culture to work and be absolutely committed to it. In a learning culture, everyone agrees on a shared vision and everyone recognizes the inherent inter-relationships among the organization’s processes, activities, functions, and external environment. It also fosters a strong sense of community, caring for each other, and trust. A learning culture encourages employees to freely communicate openly, share, experiment, and learn without fear of criticism or punishment.