Getting Employees to Teach One Another: Tips From an Expert

Mary Blair Zakaib, facilitator of the University of Virginia Engagement Community, offers the following advice for organizations that want to encourage employees to form groups to learn from each other and work on shared problems.

• Start with a real need, not a top-down mandate.
• Expand the group by word-of-mouth and referrals. That builds a stronger group than advertising.
• Ask a manager who sees the value of an employee group to play a leading role and ensure the idea gets needed resources.
• Be inclusive. Invite anyone to join who wants to learn.
• Emphasize shared goals and problems, not differences. (Play down specific jobs or places in the organization’s hierarchy.)
• Respond to the community’s needs and emerging trends and opportunities. Solicit feedback and use it to grow.
• Use existing resources, including the organization’s people, places, and things.
• Recruit volunteers. They will help spread the word and shoulder the work.
• Learn by doing. Report on the results.
• To minimize risk, take small steps. Place bets you can afford to lose.
• Restate the employee group’s mission and goals at every opportunity. Use plain, memorable language.
• Maintain informal status as long as possible. It helps the group gain experience, learn from its mistakes, and keep expectations modest.

Related: Va. University Employees Use Collective Wisdom to Solve Problems