Most of the learning through which people master their work in networked organizations takes place as part of the work process itself, through self-directed experimentation and the experience it generates.

However, in the areas of advanced social skills and psychological self-reflection, self-direction may never lead to insight. Personal development and group dynamics often need coaching and facilitation to break out of fixed patterns and come to insight about the next steps that will take people and systems beyond their current limitations.

It is sometimes better not to have people reinvent the wheel. Often it is more effective for everyone to be shown the same ideas, approaches and lessons-learned by an experienced expert and practitioner and then to customize and adapt them for themselves.