Practical, insightful and inspiring, this go-to guide is packed with fresh ideas and real-world strategies – Peter Plumlee reviews essential reading for L&D professionals, team leaders and anyone seeking smarter collaboration
Book: Organizational Learning Communities – Empowering social learning and collaboration to improve performance
Author: Andy Lancaster
When I first picked up Organizational Learning Communities – Empowering social learning and collaboration to improve performance, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. A 400- page book about learning communities? It sounded like it might be one of those overly academic reads you power through out of obligation. It turns out, you shouldn’t judge a book by its page count.
This book is more than just a collection of theories or abstract scenarios, it is firmly rooted in real challenges and their successes
Andy Lancaster writes like he’s sitting across from you in a buzzing café, not lecturing, just sharing. There’s an energy to his words, like the atmosphere of a place where ideas collide and grow. His writing is clear, practical and quietly confident, as if he knows you’ll find something here that clicks.
The book’s flexibility struck me right away. Andy invites you to explore it however works best; whether that’s skimming for what resonates most, diving straight through, or flipping back and forth as needed. I chose to read it cover to cover, and honestly, it paid off.
Each chapter starts with a ‘Key Thought’ that frames the content nicely and ends with ‘Reflection and Action’ prompts. Those prompts are deceptively simple, encouraging you to pause and think: How will this work in my world?
The 7C model: Structured yet flexible
The 7C model is a big part of the book. It’s a hexagon-shaped framework for building learning communities, and while it’s structured, it’s not rigid. What I liked most was Andy’s honesty about it. He doesn’t present it as a flawless system but as something flexible, designed to work as a step-by-step, possibly each portion occurring in the need, or multiple concurrently, depending on the maturity of different communities in an organisation. The ‘cause’ at the centre resonated with me. It’s about purpose, which can be easy to lose sight of when you’re caught up in the day-to-day demands for results.
A refreshingly practical approach
The structure of the book seamlessly incorporates resources, along with regular reminders about additional online items available. Rather than relegating references to an appendix, they are conveniently placed at the end of each chapter. This thoughtful arrangement ensures that readers can easily follow up on ideas without interrupting their reading flow. It’s a practical and considerate design choice that significantly enhances the book’s usability.
The case studies, stories and anecdotes in this book are not only relatable and enlightening but also specific enough to be genuinely useful. Each serves as a strand, intricately weaving together the chapter’s key thoughts, guiding principles and reflective prompts to form a rich tapestry of insights.
This book is more than just a collection of theories or abstract scenarios, it is firmly rooted in real challenges and their successes. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out, you will conclude each chapter enriched with new insights.
A book you’ll keep coming back to
One thing is for certain, this book isn’t going to collect dust on my shelf. It’s the kind of resource you keep within arm’s reach. Whether you’re tackling a new challenge, looking for fresh ideas, or just need a reminder that collaboration works, it has something to offer every time you pick it up.
If you’re in L&D, a team leader, or simply curious about fostering better collaboration and growth, this book is worth the read. It’s practical, yes, but also thoughtful and inspiring. And most importantly, it leaves you feeling like building better learning communities isn’t just possible – it’s truly essentia
Peter Plumlee is L&D Specialist at PRESENCE
