Tips for Initiating and Supporting Learning Projects

We must move from seeing leadership development as an event

to an ongoing process without an actual end. Jay Conger
A learning project is an on-the-job activity aimed at improving an individuals
or teams effectiveness in a given skill area. A learning project legitimizes
experimentation and provides an opportunity for team members to try out
new skills and approaches in the workplace. Typical projects are conducted in
teams, address real workplace challenges or opportunities, place project
participants in a problem-solving mode, and involve a continuous process of
learning and reflection.
Throughout the course of a learning project, your support as a manager is
critical to making the project a valuable and successful experience for the
project team members. The following are tips for initiating learning projects
and supporting the individuals and teams engaged in them.

Tips for initiating a learning project

Select projects with care: Projects should be chosen carefully to make

the best use of your teams time. Two customizable learning projects are
included with each Harvard ManageMentor topic. A project plan template
is also included to help you and your team create your own projects.
When selecting or creating a project, consider the following:
o The project should address the project participants development
needs and a business or organizational need.
o Consider how the project can best align with and help achieve your
groups goals.
o The project should challenge team members and push them out of
their comfort zone. Ideally the project should involve them in
activities they have never done before.
o Ensure the scope of the project is appropriate. A project that takes a
substantial amount of participants time and lasts for several
months may be too involved. Conversely, a simple project that
takes only a few hours to complete may not present enough of a
challenge for significant learning to occur.
o Consider how the results of the project can be acted on. Be wary
about assigning projects that have no possibility of making an
impact on the organization.

Emphasize learning outcomes in addition to business outcomes:

Position the project to team members as a development opportunity first
and foremost, and secondarily as a way to achieve a business or
organizational outcome i.e., be sure to place emphasis on the learning
goals of the experience.

Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved.

Tips for Initiating and Supporting Learning Projects

Be certain project deliverables are clear: The scope of a learning

project can expand unnecessarily if participants do not know exactly what
is expected of them.

Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved.

Tips for Initiating and Supporting Learning Projects

Tips for supporting a learning project

Ensure participants have the data and support they need to

complete the project: Some projects may require access to data or
people that your team members do not normally have access to. Your
support may be necessary for enabling your teams access to these
resources.

Support any additional time commitments: Be aware that the project

may require reallocating some of the project participants time over the
duration of the project. Participants may need your help in clarifying
priorities or setting expectations about how many hours should be spent
on learning project activities.

Timely feedback: As participants work on their project, check in with

them periodically to provide feedback and offer any necessary guidance.

Reinforce project parameters: Its often very easy and tempting for
team members to broaden the scope of their project goals and activities
while exploring new skills, problems, or opportunities within the
organization. Be sure to periodically reinforce the parameters of the
project to prevent team members from overextending themselves.

Promote opportunities for reflection: Participants should reflect on

their project experience at multiple intervals, not just at the end of the
project. During the project, ask participants what they are learning along
the way. The reflection should be focused on what they are learning about
the issue or opportunity being explored, their team processes, and their
individual skills and perspectives. Also, at the conclusion of the project,
consider leading a debrief session with the project participants. Suggested
project debrief questions can be found in the accompanying group
learning project plans.

Encourage the sharing of project outcomes: At the conclusion of the

project, encourage project participants to share their lessons learned and
project results with others on the team or in the organization. For
example, participants could hold an information-sharing session over
lunch or post their results and conclusions on a discussion forum.

Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved.