Melitta Hannon (289) 344-0087 melittah@vision2000.ca Contact me to plan your dream vacation today A Publication of Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce www.haltonhillschamber.on.ca January 12, 2010 12 Pages Continuous Learning ... why it's for you. By Wendy Hue, PCC, CSP, Partners in Progress, www.partnersinprogress.ca ontinuous learning is NOT about continually taking courses -- it's about developing skills in reflection and inquiry -- it's about learning how to learn so that your life's experiences become your own learning lab. The concept of continuous learning has become quite prominent in companies. Organizations are changing rapidly. Therefore, it's difficult to find any approach to doing anything that doesn't soon become outdated. The concept of continuous learning has become important because it places priority on noticing, adapting and learning from change. The key words in this definition are "noticing", "adapting" and "learning" from change. What have you noticed in your environment in the past couple of years that you've had to adapt to and what did you learn (or have to unlearn) from C that experience? When a person tells me they have 10 years experience I always ask, "Is that 10 years experience or one year of experience repeated 10 times? This question usually provokes a rather odd reaction because many do not grow from their experience. Many find a comfortable space and place and don't move from there. As Albert Einstein so aptly quoted "nothing happens until something moves." When you have attended a course of study you have not learned anything until you have applied the information. Learning only has occurred when you have applied it and experienced success or failure. There is a need to record what provoked that success or failure in order to learn from it. If there is a failure, ask the question, "What do I now need to do differently?" Failure is a very good thing when one can learn from it. In today's global economy it is only through noticing what needs to change, adapting to the change (in other words learning about it and then applying the learning) that one can continue to grow and sustain themselves, a department and a company. It is only through continuous learning that companies remain sustainable and profitable. What in your environment requires your reflection? What do you need to inquire about and how will you go about doing that? Now that you know why, to what will you apply for your continuous learning? Good Luck! BusinessLink Profile Inside This Issue... From the Boardroom . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . Page 3 Business Link Profile: Canadian Tire. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 3 Upcoming Events .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 4 Business Event Pictures . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 4 General Manager's Desk. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 5 Twitter - What You Need To Know . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 5 Welcome New Members . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 6 Membership Renewals . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 7 Businesses of Month. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 8 Book Review Jeff Rubin's . . . Why your world . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 9 New to Us, Old Hat to Them .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 9 Spotlight on Volunteer. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 10 Identifying Risk In Your Supply Chain . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 10 What's News .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 11 Marnie Hughes, Communication Artistry in Ireland See page 3 Send in your pic reading BusinessLink on holidays, and you'll be on the front page, too! UNDER CABINET LIGHTING, RENOVATIONS, PANEL CHANGES, HOT TUBS, FLOOR WARM, POTLIGHTS, SERVICE UPGRADES, GENERATORS, SURGE PROTECTORS HOME SPECIALIST HOME SPECIALIST SINCE 1994 HOME SPECIALIST 905-702-0515 ...at your service . . . at your doorstep www.dekerelectric.ca ESA/ECRA #7003060 UNDER CABINET LIGHTING, RENOVATIONS, PANEL CHANGES, HOT TUBS, FLOOR WARM, POTLIGHTS, SERVICE UPGRADES, GENERATORS, SURGE PROTECTORS