The Upskilling Imperative: 5 Ways to Make Learning Core to the Way We Work

by Shelley Osborne

Make continuous learning part of your company’s DNA—and growth, profits, and sustainability will follow

Keeping up with the pace of change may seem impossible, but it’s not. The secret is to make continuous learning a top value for every person on the team so when change happens, everyone is prepared.

In The Upskilling Imperative, Shelley Osborne, Udemy’s Vice President of Learning, reveals the methods she uses to help many of today’s leading companies—from Adidas to PayPal to Barclays—build and sustain a culture of learning. With techniques supported by the latest learning science, she takes you through five steps for transforming your business into an industry

Create an environment of freedom, opportunity, and love of learningUse honest, forthright feedback to fuel your new learning cultureClearly communicate the rewards that come when we approach our job as a learning adventureBuild learning into the everyday workflows and operationsManage your new learning culture in a sustainable wayWith this new, evolved mindset, you and your workforce will approach the next inevitable workplace upheaval or technology with skill and confidence—not confusion and dread.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Professional Development

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2020

Reviews

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be essential reading for all company leadership. Working at a learning company, I have seen the benefits and impact of instilling a learning culture. This book shares important insights and has great tips to get you (and your company) on the right path.

[Chintushig Tumenbayar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Хувьсан өөрчлөгдөж буй бизнесийн орчин ажилтан өөрөө өөрийгөө хөгжүүлэх нь хангалтгүй ба байгуулгын зүгээс ч гэсэн энэ тал дээр арга хэмжээ авах цаг нь болсон. Судалгаагаар 09-16 оны дүнгээр Америкийн компаниуд сургалтын зардлаа хүн тус бүр дээр 200 доллароор нэмсэн дүн гарсан нь энэ чиглэлд явуулж байгааг харуулсан бол нөгөө талдаа 19' оны судалгаагаар Үдеми онлайн хичээлд хөрөнгө оруулсан 1 доллар бүрдээ хөрөнгө байгууллагууд ирэх 3 жилийн хугацаанд 860% аар өсгөн буцаан авдаг гэсэн дүн гарчээ. Сонирхолтой хэрэгжүүлж болох арга барилаас дурдвал сар бүр нэгхэн цагийг ажилчдыхаа дунд хүссэн юмаа сурах, онлайн хичээлдээ зориулах боломж олгосноор өөрийгөө хөгжүүлдэггүй, зогсонго байсан хүмүүс ч шинэ юм хайж эхэлж байжээ.

[Francois D’Agostini · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am going to be a bit unfair to this book. It is a good book, but I guess it is mainly repeating things found in other books.

I am familiar with growth mindset theories and this book just repeats a lot of the concepts.

It is mainly a book about setting up a successful L&D struture under a broader organization. As a result, I felt the content of the book did not appeal so much to me.

so don't hesitate to give it a shot if you are moving into some kind of Learning leadership inside your company. For others, the same content can be found in a more impactful books.

The main takeaways are:
- learning will never stop, it is an neverending journey
- Learning should be completely merged into your daily work. It should serve your immediate needs - - learning should be repeated for an extended period of time so that it sinks in.

[Jung]

To survive into the future, businesses must begin to create durable and practical learning cultures. Give your employees the chance to upskill as part of their job. You’ll find you can boost staff retention rates and increase productivity, all while building trust with your team. 

Actionable advice: 

Create a DEAL hour – that’s D, E, A, L – meaning “Drop Everything And Learn.”

Even if it’s just once a month, designate one hour where everyone stops what they’re doing and starts a learning activity. While one hour doesn’t sound like much, it can motivate colleagues to collaborate or share their learning experiences. And for others who’ve fallen out of the upskilling habit, it can act as a gentle reminder to rekindle their appetite for learning. 

[Karolis Paškevičius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make learning new skills sexy for the employees.

5 ways to make learning core to the way we work!

1. Develop and foster agile learners
2. Feedback is fuel for learning culture
3. Think like a marketer to drive learning culture & development
4. Put learning into the flow of work
5. Lead by example to show the value of learning

Idea: once a month make a mandatory learning hour - DEAL (Drop Everything And Learn)

[Loren Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m probably being a bit unfair in my assessment. As a leader in L&D most of the information here felt like a lot of “well duh” moments. I realize that it may not be intuitive to someone not working in the learning space. There are some good nuggets of information and some nice case examples. If you’re struggling to make your organization become learning focused, it’s worth the read.

[Irene Gracesiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book written by Shelley Osborne - the VP learning at Udemy
the author bring up the trend for learning in the future and how organization should shift the culture of learning.

Continuous learning is number skill that important no matter your age!!

5 ways to make learning core to the way we work!
1. Develop and foster agile learners
2. Feedback is fuel for learning culture
3. Think like marketer to drive learning culture & development
4. put learning into the flow of work
5. signal the value of learning

[Zhivko Kabaivanov · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Upskilling Imperative (2020) introduces practical tips for companies to ensure their staff have ample opportunity to learn skills for the future.

With industries and technologies changing all the time, it shows business leaders the steps they can take to stay ahead of the curve and establish robust, accessible learning environments.

[Noer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this little book VP of Learning at Udemy, Shelley Osborne, discusses what she likes to call the "upskilling imperative": the absolute need for modern organisations to incorporate a learning culture within the fabric of the company.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upskilling is needed! Every place and environment. All skills are estimated to have a 5 year shelf life now. Business needs are constantly changing and need a new outlook.

Create a DEAL hour.

Drop Everything And Learn. A reminder to upskilled and learn.

[Dan Schwebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for any HR professional or anyone working in learning and development. The book focuses on creating and maintaining a learning culture.

[Joshua Van Alstine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been a newsletter.

[Alyssa Foll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say this was a great read for novel ideas or strategies, but I did get a few ideas and some tactics to try from the world of learning and development.