Andy Storch recently sat down with Dwayne Britton, the Head of Global Learning and Development at "On," an innovative athletic shoe and performance sportswear company based in Switzerland. Britton shared profound insights into creating a thriving culture of learning and inclusion within an organization. Here are actionable steps to help you foster a similar environment in your own company.

Define and Integrate Core Values

Britton highlighted the importance of rootedness in core values. At "On," values such as autonomy, entrepreneurship, agency, and inclusion are deeply integrated into their learning philosophy. To replicate this, start by explicitly defining your company's core values and ensure they are visible in everyday practices and decisions.

Develop a Comprehensive Learning Program

The learning program at "On," named Spark, reflects their commitment to brand values and philosophy. Create a learning development program that promotes agency, respect, and active participation. Incorporate these values into training materials, workshops, and e-learning modules to maintain consistency.

Engage Senior Leadership

Britton emphasized the involvement of senior leadership in learning and development. Encourage your leadership team to actively participate in training sessions and development programs. Their involvement will signal the importance of these initiatives and inspire wider organizational engagement.

Create Structured Leadership Development Paths

The "school of leaders" program at "On" levels up leadership development through chapters like onboarding, leadership essentials, core curriculum, and off-campus experiences. Design a structured path for new leaders that covers essential skills such as communication, trust-building, psychological safety, empathy, and team management. Including both live sessions and cohort-based learning can enhance the learning experience.

Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Britton is passionate about DEI and integrates it into leadership programs to encourage participation from underrepresented groups. To foster an inclusive environment, prioritize DEI initiatives. Offer programs that respect and support individual learning preferences, and create safe spaces for marginalized voices to be heard and supported.

Promote Self-Directed Learning

Encourage employees to take charge of their own development. Provide resources, guidance, and tools to support self-driven career growth. As Britton mentioned, create a reference guide for self-owned career development that helps employees identify competencies and career trajectories.

Maintain a Culture of Psychological Safety

Psychological safety is crucial for innovation and growth. Ensure that your workplace fosters open communication, community building, and leadership support to create an environment where employees feel safe to express their thoughts and ideas without fear of repercussions.

Encourage Continuous Learning

Even tenured leaders at "On" revisit programs to refresh their knowledge. Foster a continuous learning culture by encouraging all employees, regardless of their experience level, to engage in ongoing development opportunities.

Balance Learning with Work Responsibilities

Finding time for personal development can be challenging. Leaders should support their teams in balancing their work responsibilities with their personal growth. Allocate time for learning activities and ensure that employees feel empowered to prioritize their development without compromising their job performance.

Creating a culture of learning and inclusion requires intentionality, commitment, and continuous effort. By following these steps and learning from the experience of leaders like Dwayne Britton, organizations can build environments where employees thrive, innovate, and grow together.