Perspectives
Lies About Learning
Editor: Larry Israelite (ASTD Press; 2006)
Review by: Mike Schellen
Have
you ever considered the view of organizational learning from the top of a
corporation? In Lies About Learning, editor Larry Israelite has
aggregated a collection of writings from CEO's, CLO's, and other organizational
and learning experts on some of the more profound missteps and misstatements in
organizational learning today.
Each chapter in the book is authored by a different expert, and focuses on a different set of "lies" surrounding a discipline related to learning. Chapter titles include "Lies About Learners", "Lies About Chief Learning Officers", and "Lies About E-Learning" to name a few. Each chapter concludes with a table which includes the chapter's "lies" in the left-hand column, and corresponding "truths" in the right-hand column. The editor writes the final chapter in the book, in which he espouses his version of "truths" regarding learning.
The authors within the book offer a "pull no punches" approach to the learning profession. To those of us who have devoted our lives to learning, some segments are almost painful to read, as they dispel certain theories that many of us might consider unwavering and absolute. Such unmitigated candor from an external view makes the book riveting and thought-provoking. While many of the offerings are admonitions we've heard repeatedly, they are crafted in such a masterful way that the reader is compelled to think and rethink his or her beliefs within the context of the learning world.
Among the book's recurring themes is a warning to learning practitioners to approach the learning discipline with a business mindset. I spent the early part of my career with the mind of an idealist, thinking training was an end instead of a means. I went through the natural evolution of the trainer over time, first thinking that "it's all about training", which later became "it's all about the learner". The authors remind us that such idealism can lead to the demise of the training function, and that in the end "it's all about results". Many have spent a lifetime trying to teach the business world about learning, when all along we in the learning profession should have been learning to put our efforts into the context of business.
One of the fascinating conventions of this book is that it will argue both sides of a given learning issue, and will make a compelling argument in both cases. For example, Chapter 7 argues that an organization providing the learning function in-house is good, and outsourcing is bad - and vice-versa. It then argues that outsourcing does reduce costs; followed by why outsourcing doesn't reduce costs. Reading such antithetical positions gives the reader a full spectrum of information and opinion from which to make an informed choice.
I don't declare many books to be a "must-read", but if you are in any way associated with the practice of learning, this one's a must. It is one of the finest efforts I have seen from ASTD Press, and it is a book that not only have I read a couple of times, but also that I refer to frequently within the course of the work week. It is an easy and enjoyable read which is at various times amusing, candid, and powerful. Do yourself a favor and read this one cover to cover, and take in every word.
By the way, this new book is available through the ASTD National web site. When ordering, use Chapter Code CH7017.
About the Author: Mike Schellen is the Asst. Manager of Training for EMC Mortgage. He has served in various training and training leadership positions for the last 17 years. He is currently the Vice-President of Communications for the Dallas Chapter of ASTD, and is the editor of Perspectives.