Throughout my life, I have always had a passion for learning. I believe continually learning is one of the best things one can do to achieve success. With this belief in mind, I have been uniquely fascinated and interested in the position of Chief Learning Officer (CLO) in different organizations. These unique individuals are constantly contributing to the success and development of others.
Through America’s Healthcare Leaders, I have been blessed with the opportunity to interview a few individuals who have attained this position at some point in their career or are currently filling it within their organization. The two individuals I would like to draw attention to today are Al Cornish, CLO at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, KY, and Carlos Arce, former CLO of Billings Clinic in Billings, MT.
Al Cornish discusses what makes a CLO unique in comparison to the Chief Human Resource Officer:
“My focus is strictly on the learning within the organization, and on organization development. I make sure we have established learning systems in place to address the needs of the organization both now and in the future.”
Carlos Arce describes his former role as CLO as wanting to create a place where people willingly bring their best and engage with others to be successful.
The primary purpose behind this position is to make sure each employee is given the opportunity to learn within the organization and become the best employee and team member they could possibly be. It’s no surprise then that the people in these positions have some wonderful advice and insight into the future.
For instance, Arce recommended 3 wonderful resources for anyone seeking to be more successful within their organization:
- Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
- Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect by Matthew Lieberman
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
I encourage you to take a look at each of these resources. Every subject discussed is applicable to individuals across all industries and in any role. Change is one of the driving forces of division within organizations, and the first book dives into this difficult area. The other books are, as Arce describes, “a very powerful door into understanding our thinking and how our brains are wired to be able to ultimately influence performance.”
In addition to these very useful resources, Cornish gives insight into what he thinks will be the most significant change in the future for people in healthcare: technology. Obviously changing technology is not exclusive to healthcare. Cornish states, “The future is unlimited as it relates to its use of technology. I think it is going to transform the way we deliver learning to employees.”
Both of these individuals recognize the need for people to actively utilize the resources within their organization. CLOs are there to engage, teach, and help you pursue a more successful career. Use these resources and consider the advice from each of these respected leaders.
