100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS • 77
world, bringing them to the surface, and holding them rigorously
to scrutiny. It also includes the ability to carry on “learningful”
conversations that balance inquiry and advocacy, where people
expose their own thinking effectively and make that thinking
open to the infl uence of others.
- Building a shared vision means developing a shared picture of the
future. Such a vision has the power to be uplifting, encouraging
experimentation and innovation. Crucially, it can also foster a
lon g-ter m p ersp e c t ive. Wh at is ne e de d for success, however, is a n
ability to translate a vision into a clear, practical set of principles
and guiding practices.
- Team learning is the fi nal aspect of organizational learning,
and is defi ned by Peter Senge as “the process of aligning and
developing the capacities of a team to create the results its
members truly desire.” It builds on personal mastery and shared
vision, and recognizes that people need to be able to act together.
When teams learn together, Senge suggests, not only can there
be good results for the organization, but members will develop
their skills more rapidly.
