Also known as "Group Coaching" or "Peer Consultation," Action Learning really works - and it's very cost-effective too.

 

It follows a set format: a group of five or six people come together regularly, as an "Action Learning Set".  On each meeting day, each person takes a turn to "bring an issue" to the group.  The group then focuses, in turn, on helping them action-plan a resolution to that issue.  A five-step process is followed for each issue.  A facilitator manages the time and the process - using techniques to assist if the group gets "stuck".

 

For Action Learning to work well, some preconditions must be in place:

• a high degree of trust and confidentiality within the group

• the issues to resolve must be work-related issues, things which

  • are "in the too-difficult pile" - not easily resolvable;

  • are within the person's power to resolve

  • will make a big difference once resolved... not trivial.

• the participants must be committed to the process: we recommend three diary dates are booked, each two months apart, at the beginning of the set.

 

Along the way,

• each participant learns coaching skills,

• each participant learns management skills - problem resolution, practical performance management, and more

• the organisation benefits from having it's difficult issues addressed, and

• an effective, useful, supportive peer network is created.

 

It's nothing short of brilliant.