Action Learning
What is Action Learning?
- Based on a formally-created development group
- Facilitated by an experienced action learning coach
- Working on real tasks and projects to support learning and actions
- Members learning with and from one another as they work on individual tasks
- Meetings at regular intervals over several months
'Action Learning is the only way forward for management development.'
- Management Development Consultant, ICL
Action learning is a powerful form of problem-solving combined with intentional learning. It is a way of accelerating your learning from experience, to enable you to handle difficult situations more effectively.
In an action learning group, you will each work on your own task, getting to the real problem by questioning and analysis, and linking the problem's situation to what is going on in your particular context. Equally, you will be supported - and challenged - to explore the difficulties within, ensuring that you question your assumptions, recognise your ingrained patterns and responses, and take action.
Dealing with Change and Uncertainty
Every action learning group develops its own way of working. But the underlying aim is for each member in turn to work on the problem they have brought to the group, even while they are working on a task within a shared project.
The rest of the group helps the problem-holder by giving feedback, asking questions to produce deeper understanding and develop more ideas, and encouraging or challenging the problem-holder to set goals and take initiatives.
Your Coach or Facilitator - A Resource, Not a Teacher
Your action learning coach will:
- help members focus on key issues and joint learning
- introduce practical processes for problem diagnosis, planning and implementation
But group members will be encouraged to:
- manage time and resources effectively
- take over responsibility for their own action learning work
- work together as an effective learning group
Feedback from Action Learning Group Members
'The group took us out of our world and forced us to think deeply for an hour, then put us back into our world and challenged us to act on our thinking'
'We tend to accept our environment as a given: I discovered I can influence it and change it by my thoughts and actions'
'I was forced to see my world through other people's eyes, questioning my own narrow assumptions and integrating new views into my strategies and actions'
Your Action Learning Programme
In joining an open action learning programme from e-coaches you will receive:
- an initial personal consultation and coaching session to help you define both your objectives for the programme, and the task or project you will bring to it
- membership of an action learning group with participants from a range of organisations, selected to bring complementary skills and needs to the group
- an introductory half-day workshop to meet other group participants and establish action learning methods of working
- six full-day facilitated working sessions spread over 6-9 months
- a skilled and highly-experienced action learning group coach/facilitator
- continuing individual coaching support as required
- final review session
Further Information
You may like to know that we also provide in-company action learning groups, as well as e-mail- and web-based action learning programmes.
Please Contact Us for more information on this, or any of the e-coaches services.