You learn more in a high demand job

Researchers commonly assume job design influences employee learning. In their recent work, Holman et al. (2011) have indicated job design characteristics significantly influence employee learning and innovation. Specifically they found that job control and job demand had a positive relationship with learning strategies and idea generation. In this context job control pertains to one’s ability to plan their own work and job demand concerns the difficulty or challenge of one’s work.

This means that jobs that offer employees high levels of autonomy to perform challenging work foster learning strategy use and idea creation that is necessary for innovation.  Learning strategies that were found to promote idea creation included, but were not limited to:

1. Thinking about new information and its implications for the job rather than merely concentrating on the facts presented.
2. Reflecting upon how one’s work fits into the broader scope of the organization.
3. Considering how your work affects your team or department.
4. Filling in the gaps of your knowledge by securing the appropriate material.
5. Trying out new things by putting them into practice.
6. Getting someone to help you when you need assistance.

It is important to note that not all jobs readily afford employees with job control and demand characteristics that promote learning and idea creation. Nevertheless you have can create opportunities to acquire and use knowledge through reflection, interaction and collaboration with your team members. Active participation in such behaviors will result in higher learning and performance.