Informal Learning: Learning Is Everywhere

Written by Suzanne Conroy, M.Ed, PCC

Much of life’s most significant learning happens informally, both at work and at home, through everyday experiences, relationships, and conversations.

Formal learning typically happens through structured education, while informal learning happens through everyday life and experience. Society often thinks of learning in the formal sense. In fact, 70% of workplace learning comes from informal learning (1). Considering this statistic, is there as much value placed on informal learning as formal learning, or is informal learning something society takes for granted? There is much advocacy for informal learning to be valued on par with formal learning, particularly as it is foundational for human flourishing (2).

Coaching as Informal Learning

Much informal learning happens through conversation; of course, this is where coaching fits in. In What Is (Leadership) Coaching?, I explore how learning is at the heart of coaching. I personally cannot fathom who I would be without transformative learning conversations.

Observation alone doesn’t transfer learning: one must understand the significance of the learning (3, 4). In a coaching conversation, the coach acts as a learning connector, bringing awareness and consciousness to the learning and helping the client understand its significance (ICF, 2021). Every conversation is a space to learn more about self, others, and the world. In every conversation, we have the opportunity to be both teacher and student: to contribute what we know, while remaining open to what we might learn. A coaching conversation brings learning to the forefront, deepening not only what we learn within the dialogue, but our capacity to learn from everyday life.

Learning is limitless and comes from everywhere; our work is to be open and conscious of receiving it.

What might change if you entered every conversation as both the teacher and the student? 

I’d love to hear your reflections. If you’d like to continue the conversation about executive and leadership coaching, please connect with me.

References

(1) Caruso, S. (2017). A foundation for understanding knowledge sharing: Organizational culture, informal workplace learning, performance support, and knowledge management. Contemporary Issues in Education Research, 10(1), 45–52.

(2) Jeffs, T., & Smith, M. K. (2019, October 19). What is informal education? infed.

(3) Freire, P. (1974). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Continuum.

(4) Dewey, J. (1938). Experience & Education. Kappa Delta Pi.