Continuous learning is a big part of Google’s culture

Working at Google is a lot like being back at university.

There are tons of opportunities to learn. For example, Googlers have access to online learning resources (internal and external), in person training, 20% projects, temporary assignments, learning credits, reddit like groups etc.  To name just a few.  

In fact learning is so pervasive, you can even learn when you go to the bathroom.  

Every bathroom at Google is also a classroom.

Here is what it looks like when you go to the bathroom

If you zoom in closer, you will find the following types of articles posted on the bathroom walls.

These “learning at the loo” articles are posted inside the stalls too.  

There is simply no escaping.   

Topics can range from technical, to personal, to professional dimensions.

The goal of this education channel is to share hacks with Googlers so that they can reduce workloads, reduce stress, and improve work satisfaction.   

As a result the topics can vary far and wide from – leading product development practices, coding guidelines, corporate perks, working from home, personal development etc.

Some of my favorite articles are –

• Feedback Matters – How To Be Better @ User Research
• Using Critical User Journeys
• Better Incident Management
• Validate Schemas Manners
• Sustainability Google’s Quite Moonshot
• 6 Tips For Writing Better Email, and
• Avoiding Bias In Decision Making

You can see more examples here.

The best part is that this entire operation is run by volunteers.

You would think that putting something like this would take an army of corporate communications specialists.

However, in reality, the entire operation is run by a handful of volunteers.  Four to be exact.  Who use their 20% time to curate and edit new articles.

As for frequency, new articles are posted every 2 weeks.  And is distributed by facilities and / or volunteers.

There are three reasons why this works.

Learning at the loo started in 2007.  And after 15 years it is still going strong.

Why?

For three reasons,

1. Undivided attention:  The articles capture you at a moment in time where there is not much else that you can do.  By placing them right above the urinal or stall, you have a captive audience.  
2. Right topics:  Having a captive audience is great but not enough.  The next challenge is to have them read it.  Which is why the LOTL team prides itself on curating the right topics and creating compelling headlines.  Boring corporate mandates, red tape topics, and event marketing never make it to the loo.  
3. Short and sweet:  Loo articles have less than 30 seconds to make an impression.  Which is why the articles adhere to a strict format, require a lot of pictures, and make sure the message is actionable.  

All in all, the team does a fantastic job educating all of Google, whether they like it or not.  And if you read the feedback, most of them do.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom and learn.

Happy building!!