5 Benefits of Action Learning Sets
Action Learning Sets are a great way to receive group coaching in work challenges, in an open and accountable way, with support and challenge from diverse perspectives. If you have never been a part of an Action Learning Set before, here are 5 reasons you might consider joining one:
1. Create a safe environment to discuss challenges
When a challenge arises at work, it can be difficult to discuss it openly within the team. Some people may react badly if they feel like blame is being placed on them. Others may feel unheard if their suggested solutions are ignored or critiqued. An Action Learning Set provides a safe space to discuss challenges openly and transparently. Though this coaching by the group, each member is empowered to discover a range of possible solutions within themselves. The group members provide support and challenge through questions from new perspectives to help explore all possible solutions, without emotion or judgement.
2. Receive coaching from diverse peers
Too often we can be stuck in a rut trying the same strategies without results. This can be partly because of a lack of fresh perspectives on long-standing problems. Being part of an Action Learning Set can help provide new perspective on challenges from the point of view to someone new to the problem. Not only that, but a key part of a successful Action Learning Set is having a diverse group from different backgrounds, sectors and work experiences. Being coached with questions from people with fresh ideas and from people outside of your team, organisation or sector can enable you to discover new insights and lead to innovative solutions you had perhaps not considered before.
3. Have accountability for your solutions
Having a solution to a work challenge is one thing, implementing that solution is often another. Without proper accountability for actions, successful problem solving is never fully achieved. An Action Learning Set provides an important structure of accountability for how we tackle work challenges. If someone comes to a revelation in one session, the following session can begin with a review of what the person has done to implement their solution in the intervening time. This, along with a set schedule of sessions throughout a year, provides a structure of accountability to make sure solutions are implemented and evaluated.
4. Build connections beyond your organisation
Being part of an Action Learning Set can provide unique and surprising avenues to network and connect with people in other organisations, sectors and industries. Often group members find that they are tackling similar issues, even if the nature of their work is completely different. This can lead to exciting new avenues for exploration and even the beginning of new ventures that wouldn’t have been possible before.
5. Focus on your development
Sometimes it can be very easy to ignore our own needs and development in favour of larger work goals. Some of us naturally focus on the challenges at hand, rather than the bigger picture of how we deal with challenge. But, they aren’t always two different things. Focusing on our own development can often improve our relationship to challenges, helping us to identify challenges early on and even avoid them. Being part of an Action Learning Set is a great opportunity to give ourselves the opportunity to receive coaching from a group, allowing us time to focus on our own development, so that we can show up the best we can at work.
Join an Action Learning Set today
Give yourself the opportunity to learn and develop, whilst solving work issues at the same time.
Register your interest on this form today and we will be in touch with more details.
