Duration: 2 Days
Introduction
Widely used in UK and worldwide organisations, Action Learning involves a carefully designed blend of questioning, action and reflection to provide solutions to business problems not easily solved by any other method.
We provide a two day on site course either as two consecutive days or on two separate days.
For prices please click here.
Course Outline
This two day course provides an introduction to Action Learning. It includes a detailed review of the theory and principles that underlie the success of Action Learning sets.
It also includes several hours practice and active participation in a learning set
Course Aims
By the end of the course delegates will be able to:
- Ensure that the learning set meets pre agreed business or personal goals
- Understand the way in which Action Learning works including:
- The key rules of set operation
- The questioning processes that take place in a set
- Ask the right type of question for different circumstances
- Provide feedback in a group
- Understand what is required to perform the role of set advisor
Pre-course planning
The best way to develop skills in using Action Learning sets to take part in a real action learning set.
Ideally, candidates for this course:
- Are interested in testing out a new process, and willing to get involved.
- Have a business or personal challenge they are comfortable discussing with other course members.
The use of a real business aim will help ensure that the training can be more easily applied after the course.
- However, if this is not possible, an imagined scenario would be fine.
Our pre-course questionnaire will provide further help in choosing a possible topic. We also encourage delegates to contact us before the course if they want to discuss this.
Course style
This course is run as an interactive session. There is plenty of opportunity for delegates to discuss and learn how to get the best from action learning sets.
Most of this course is spent:
- Taking part in small action learning sets
- Receiving feedback
Course Structure
1: Introduction to Action Learning
In this session we outline and discuss the fundamentals of Action Learning
- What it is
- Why it works
- Who uses it
We also discuss Action Learning Set Values:
- Being honest with oneself and with others
- Respecting others and their viewpoint
- Taking responsibility for our own actions
2: The 'Essential Rules' of Action Learning Sets
We discuss the 'rules' of Action Learning - these are essentially a set of guidelines that help ensure that the action learning set is successful and achieves goals. We discuss how these 'rules' help the learning process.
These 'rules' include:
- Remaining focused on an agreed project or task
- Ideal numbers - Six to eight in a set
- Frequency - One day per month if possible
- Each person has his or her own airspace
- No new members (if possible)
- Regular attendance
- Confidentiality
3: What happens in a set
It is initially very difficult to picture how an action learning set works. In this session we take delegates through a typical action learning set and what is happening at key stages:
- Individual ‘airspace’
- Reporting back
- Listening actively
- Giving feedback but not advice or offering solutions
- Asking good questions
- Reflecting
- Allowing time & space for silence
- No interruptions
We also discuss the structure of a set meeting:
- Check-in
- Setting an agenda
- A review of learning
- “What is the most important thing you have learned today”
- Checking out
4: Skills and Challenges
We discuss the central importance of questioning in supporting set members. We provide guidance that will help delegates to:
- Practice the most important skill - Asking useful questions.
- Resist the temptation to give advice or provide solutions to other set members.
5: Feedback
Individuals rely on quality feedback from team members. However giving feedback is a real skill in its own right. In this session we discuss:
- How each delegates prefers to feedback?
- Balancing support & challenge
6: Support from your organisation
Action Learning sets have been most successful when they are fully supported by the organisation.
In this session we will help delegates identify the real tangible outcomes that will result from their Action Learning set work.
We will help delegates to identify:
- Organisational outcomes that may be required
- Success criteria
- Evidence to be used
As an exercise delegates will identify:
- Their aims for an Action Learning Set in their part of the organisation.
- The organisational outcomes the set will achieve
We provide an Organisational Culture Readiness questionnaire which will give delegates an insight into the readiness of their organisation.
7: The Set adviser role
A set advisor provides help during the early meetings of a new set. He or she can be:
- A member of the set with prior experience
- A member of the organisation with prior experience
- An external specialist set advisor.
A Set Adviser will:
- Help set members, focus on the set projects.
- Help set members be aware of what they do or say
- Maintain the very specific processes in the set
- Lead by example –
- Behaviour and language
- Help set members adopt similar styles.
As the set progress, the role of set adviser will be come less important, and eventually redundant. This is a sign of a successful learning set.
We invite course delegates to take part in a ‘Mini Learning Set’
This exercise will help delegates to develop their skills as set members and possible future set advisors. Delegates will have a chance to:
- Ask questions
- Observe how others ask questions
- Give feedback to others
8: Potential challenges in starting a set
New Action Learning sets often face challenges as members get used to a new way of working.
Individuals may react against or attack the whole concept. In this session we discuss these challenges and how to help set members in their first few meetings.
9: Action Learning Set Practice
We use most or all of the second day to give each delegate practice as:
- A member of an Action Learning set
- A set adviser
We will agree in advance the best way to provide this experience:
- Individuals working in a set to help resolve separate individual business challenges.
OR
- Individuals working together on a common business challenge or project
We can provide this section to follow directly on from the earlier course sections (i.e. have the course on two consecutive days). We can also provide the second day a little time after the first day. |
