Learning organization is not a new concept. Traces of this concept could be found in eastern philosophies. The article discusses the characteristics of a learning organization and how to lead a learning organization.

In the last 200 years, there has been tremendous progress in the outside environment (I refer to the instruments we use, the complexity of activities we involve in). But as individuals, we remained the same. Our mental make-up remained the same. We are still driven by the same old motives: Power, hunger, sex, and belongingness. When the environment around us is changing, we also have to change our mental habits to align with it (I assume that motives are reflection of habits). For example, command and control style was appropriate in the 1950s and 1960s. The same style is no longer relevant. Knowledge economy needs teamwork. A leader of knowledge economy, unlike one of the past, has to share his power. If we do not change with the times and environment, we will naturally be overwhelmed by the environment. That is what is happening currently. The crisis of today is due to human being's unwillingness to change and belong to future.

In future, the progress of organizations will depend all the more on their people. Organizations have to unlock the potential of the people. Top managements can no longer afford to set agendas and expect people to march on to fulfill them. They have to accept them as partners. To motivate the people, first they have to understand them. People have to be seen as creatures who are here to realize their potential selves (self here refers to the unique role only one individual can play).

In the ancient Indian system, the work in the society was meant to ensure inner development of the individual. This should be the aim of future organizations. Organizations must create an environment where people develop internally as well while working. For example, ability to change mental models, systems thinking, personal mastery are such inner improvements. At personal level mastering these disciplines leads to better personal relationships. At organizational level, can ensure the growth of the organization.

Learning Organization, Organization, philosophies, leadership, management, change management, personal relationships, future organizations, Indian system, inner development, Top managements, environment, tremendous progress, complexity of activities, Power, hunger, sex, and belongingness, Knowledge economy.