This series will give background information and examples for the questions you will see on the upcoming Gallup Employee Engagement Survey.

Q12:  This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn & grow.

Q12 asks us to think back over the last year.  When we think about 2021, it can be difficult to see it as anything but negative.

COVID has disrupted every aspect of our lives. That disruption forced all of us to learn new ways of getting things done.  2021 will be studied by academics, economists and think tanks for years to come due to the long ranging impacts.  As an organization, we had more than just an opportunity to learn and grow; it was a necessity.

In the chaos, we had to find new ways of working together.  We had new challenges to overcome at work, at home or in working from home.  And through it all we continued to build and deliver great ships.

When they look back at how Ingalls managed to not only survive but thrive through the unprecedented challenges of 2021, the question will be “how did they do it?”  The answer is the agility and commitment of the people. 

Learning and growing isn’t always about attending a class, going to a seminar or reading an article that was emailed to you.  Learning from your experiences and challenges creates not only growth but also strength and resiliency.  If we reflect on 2021, we will all see that we’ve learned and grown.