Learning moments of need

I had an important learning need pop up unexpectedly Monday morning. Heather just let our dog Leia outside and I heard a cracking noise. I followed Leia outside and heard the cracking getting louder and asked Heather to get Leia back in the house immediately.

Within seconds the cracking turned into rustling leaves and a huge thump as a giant branch from an oak tree toppled to the ground and onto our fence and the neighbor’s tree.

I had to quickly learn how to file an insurance claim, contact multiple vendors to get estimates for fixing the fence and removing what remained of the tree. I wouldn’t be surprised if my chainsaw will be in use too at some point soon!

My day job as a learning leader in a corporate/field setting requires that my team focuses on solving for learning in the moment of need.

Our audience of learners are busy just like all of us with work and personal responsibilities with limited capacity.

I would prefer and regularly encourage making time for learning not only because it’s my job, but I have found value in prioritizing daily learning.

But what if it wasn’t my job? Can I expect everyone to see the value in learning without doing the work that I do? While I am certain others who aren’t learning professionals find value in learning, I know with confidence that starting with identifying needs is always the best place to start.

What are those needs? Of course one of those needs is to solve when a problem arises such as the tree that fell in our yard.

According to Bob Mosher, Chief Learning Evangelist of Apply Synergies, there are “5 Moments of Need.”

1. Apply - what you learned to your job

2. Solve - for a problem like the tree

3. Change - when you need to learn a new way of doing something

4. New - learning something for the first time

5. More - taking the next step in deeper knowledge or skill

Equipped with this easy to understand framework for anyone, regardless of their standing as a learning professional, I feel confident to help people solve for their learning needs in the flow of work and life, ideally before a tree falls in their yard!!!!

How could you leverage this framwork for your learning? Your team’s learning? Your organization’s learning?

Learn In The Flow Of Life

Jason