In teaching hospitals, they say, “See one, do one, teach one.” Every student should watch, do, and then teach. It is, after all, a “teaching” hospital. It’s a learning environment where the outcome is critical, and teaching new skills is essential. They’ve built a learning culture that has created, as the politicians like to say, “the greatest health care system in the world.”

Are you teaching others? Are your team members doing the same?

Or are you and your team hoarding knowledge?

It’s essential that you and all of your employees get better and better at teaching others. That’s the only way to elevate the skill set of everyone on the team. That’s how your organization becomes more efficient, more effective, and more profitable.

I had a receptionist a few years ago who is no longer with us (she works somewhere else; she isn’t dead). One day I asked her whether she wanted to learn how to take potential client calls and schedule appointments so she could back up our primary new client liaison. She responded, “Do I need to?” I helped her out the door shortly thereafter. Our firm, and yours, can’t win if our people aren’t ready and willing to step up to the next level.

In a small firm, it might be tough to “see one.” You might have to head down to the courthouse and watch something in a courtroom. You might have to approach a peer and ask whether you can watch or talk through how something is done. Go watch something, learn something, and then try it out for yourself. Most importantly, come back and show other people, encourage them to do it for themselves, and then make sure they teach others in your office.

You’ve got to encourage “See one, do one, teach one.” When you’re hiring, you’ve got to be sure you’re picking people interested in teaching and learning. Every employee must be a combination of teacher and student if you’re going to be successful. You’ve got to keep pushing teaching and learning within your office.

Today is the perfect day for you to “teach one.” It works for teaching doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals in jobs where they’re taking steps involving life and death. This approach will work for you as well.