explicit goals, such as becoming productive with a new software fea-
ture or brushing up on a particular forecasting method before writ-
ing a report. You set out to learn something specific and figure it out
through informal means. Other times informal learning occurs in a
broad and open-ended context: when you become familiar with dif-
ferent markets, observe a more seasoned colleague, or get a sense of
the culture in a company you’ve just joined. You probably find that
even when you are not aware that you need to learn something, you
accidentally learn along the way (see Figure 9.1).
If formal education fulfills its duty to help strengthen mental
pathways, build frameworks, create options, and widen perspectives,
informal learning can then support the day-in and day-out culture
building and skills development needed in a rapidly changing,
increasingly competitive global marketplace. Informal learning
enables us to adapt and adopt. More than what we learn through
92 LEADINGORGANIZATIONALLEARNING
Company-provided training
On-the-job experience
Interaction with coworkers
Mentored by peer or manager
Formal education
Publication
Contact with outside professionals
Internet or intranet
Conferences
Knowledge networks
Intellectual capital databasePercent0 10203040Figure 9.1 Formal and Informal Methods
People Use to Learn at WorkSource: CapitalWorks LLC. Used with permission.