Developing a Learning Culture

Hail to the Chief: Why the CCO Needs eLearning (and Vice Versa)

If a company is evolved enough to even have a chief culture officer in the first place, that organization already sets itself apart as one that is sensitive to work environment, tone and morale within the company. Basically, it’s a step in a highly sensitive direction.

A CCO is typically tasked with boosting morale and setting the tone for a work environment, but without the use of e-Learning, the CCO might not be working with a full arsenal of tools. In fact, the CLO and CCO should be working hand-in-hand in a highly symbiotic relationship that helps them both achieve their roles efficiently – and with panache.

The Chief Culture Officer at Work 

A CCO’s role may vary from organization to organization, and may actually be fulfilled by a CEO if a CCO isn’t already in place. At his core, the CCO is the champion of all that is good in an organization. Whether it’s philanthropy efforts, a commitment to high ethical standards, community outreach and even sustainability programs, the CCO creates a workplace of which employees can be proud. By promoting causes and working to improve an organization’s image, the CCO propels the employees themselves to a higher standard as a way to improve work environment for everyone.

Of course, the CCO’s efforts only work if employees are just as engaged as he is. It’s fairly impossible to improve community outreach when employees aren’t all that interested in reaching out. That’s where eLearning and the CLO come into play. The culture and the education for an organization are so closely related that the CLO and the CCO should be working closely together to improve both of their initiatives.

Creating an eLearning Culture

Think about it: Who better to improve employee engagement than the person most responsible for grabbing employee attention during training? The CLO is a valuable partner to the CCO, helping to create interactive materials, events and setting the general tone for communication between the CCO and the employees. Add that to the CLO’s unique ability to ensure presentations are on point and prioritized correctly. And, who better than the CCO to ramp up interest for an upcoming training conference? By utilizing eLearning toolsand programs, the chief culture officer educates about new programs and improves the tone of workplace communication.

The CCO and the CLO work together to create a work culture that centers around improvement, whether it means a program to create a greener workplace or voluntary leadership succession courses. By supporting each other, both the CCO and CLO create a stronger case for their roles within an organization.

Whether you have a dedicated CCO or the CEO is fulfilling the role, it’s clear that the role becomes more effective when done in tandem with a CLO’s learning and training initiatives. Using eLearning and the CLO as part of a well-rounded arsenal means a CCO’s goals are even more effective in creating a conscious, kind and driven workplace.