The Mission Between Departments: The Value Of Learning From Everyone

I have a 5-year-old nephew that is one of the smartest little kids you might meet. He was teaching me all about dinosaurs the other day. Dinosaurs aren’t something I really care to know a ton of facts about, or feel is very relevant to my life personally but for him right now, he’s all about it. The simple things I learn from my nieces and nephews might sometimes be something silly, like a dinosaur fact or the best way to play Connect 4, but every now and then, the value of what they show me has a much deeper meaning.

As I was thinking of what I might write about for this article, I realized how lately I've thought a lot about this idea: the value of learning from everyone. I've come to see that the best organizations are built by people who never stop learning from each other, and I love how Simon Sinek puts it: "A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other." I admire the mission of Med One and the purpose every employee strives to follow and fulfill. In my short time here, I've come to see that we couldn't do it without each other. Experience brings wisdom, but so does fresh perspectives, unexpected conversations, and insights from people whose roles or backgrounds may differ from our own. In my life, some of the most meaningful lessons I've learned have shown me that wisdom doesn't belong to one title, department, or age group – it comes when people are willing to learn from each other.

One of the most beautiful things about life is how each of us gets to experience the world through different perspectives and lenses. When we are open to learning from one another and create space for both listening to others and sharing our own thoughts, we become stronger and are better able to fulfill our mission. This is something I chose to write about because sometimes I’ve questioned the value of sharing my own thoughts or perspectives. Being younger or newer to a company can make it easy to assume that experience alone is what gives insight value. Working here, I’ve come to know that there is value to all life lessons — no matter who it’s coming from.

The best organizations are built by people who never stop learning from each other

We often talk about the three pillars of Med One — creativity, simplicity, and responsiveness. In order to be creative we must be open, simplicity comes from someone asking, “is there a better way to do this?”, and responsiveness begins with listening. These values become easier to live when we don’t limit insight by age, title, or department. Med One has been around for 35 years because of both experience and innovation, and the good news is that we’ll continue to move forward in the years ahead by remaining open to new ideas but also learning from proven wisdom. Experience and fresh perspective are not competing strengths; together they create stronger teams.

Growth can come from formal trainings and experience, but sometimes it comes from an unexpected conversation — even one about dinosaurs. I think not only are there different pillars of success, but also each department might contribute their own perspective to the overall mission of Med One. We’re all working at the same place, yet we are experiencing the mission of Med One from very different angles. No single role sees the entire picture alone. The strongest organizations are not built when departments simply work beside each other, but when people learn from each other. When communication is moving freely, teams become more connected, creative, and effective. This lesson isn’t so different from sitting with my nephew listening to dinosaur facts I never expected to care about. Sometimes growth begins when we choose to value perspectives outside our own.

Whether you’re new here at Med One, or you’ve worked here since the very beginning, this is a place that needs both fresh perspectives and experience. In my short time here, I’ve learned a lot, and I know there is still so much more to learn. But something I’ve learned that I’ll keep with me no matter what is that value doesn’t only come from how long someone has been doing something, it also comes from a willingness to see things differently, ask questions, and learn from every situation and every person. Some of the most meaningful lessons in life can come from unexpected teachers. There is value in learning from every direction, and we all have something to teach. Wisdom is not limited to one role, one department, or one level of experience. When there are so many different departments and individuals that work together toward a shared mission, there can be a unique strength in unity. Every role carries its own expertise and perspective, allowing us to have an even stronger ability to learn from one another across many differences. Experience is valuable. Fresh perspective is valuable. Different roles are valuable. The more willing we are to learn from one another, the stronger we become together.

I love this quote from Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.” There’s a lot to be said about a group of people that are willing to collaborate, listen, share, and navigate together through a world full of many voices, and opinions.