Accidentals: Learning in the Workplace

Photo by NeONBRAND

      Often, talks about blue collars are shrouded by discussions about amazing benefits being slowly stripped away by continued pressures to make a company more profitable. Society has failed them. Perhaps in more ways than just one.
      Today, blue collars live in a white collars world. There is nothing wrong with that. To both their strengths and weaknesses. So long as understanding exists, even if there is disagreement, there will still be a tomorrow.
      Sometimes, however, this reality presents some challenges. Challenges which can be worked with if recognized and acknowledged. Take for example: at meetings, the expectation is for all to be present in more than just physicality. But every now and then one side feels like the other is not being receptive. A presentation which has swallowed many grueling hours in preparation is not being received. We forget... We don't all learn the same way.
      White collars have learnt over time how to sit for hours and just listen to a professor preaching. A lecture it was called: a very convenient mean to educate herds upon herds of students while maintaining minimal staffing. Regardless of how they intrinsically absorb information, they have been conditioned to become good at learning from speakers, and presenters.
      On the other hand, there is a reason blue collars are blue collars. It isn't because they aren't intellectually or emotionally capable. I can assure you as much with uncontested certainty. It was a choice they made, or an inclination they developed interest in. I reason they are superior kinesthetic learners. Yet they are expected to endorse a messages they can't touch! We... have failed them.