Tweet

How To Use Action Learning Sets

Written by: Sean McPheat

Article Overview: In this article you will learn how to use action learning sets.

How To Use Action Learning Sets

When you think of a normal training event you usually think of a trainer up at the front of a classroom chalking on the board and talking about the subject!

Here at mtd we use a variety of learning methods including experiential learning, accelerated learning, business simulations, scenario workshops, action learning sets and a whole lot more!

Not many organisations are aware of what Action Learning Sets are so I thought I would spend some time in this edition to explain what they are and how you can use them in your training events.

We use them for variety and to bring the process of learning and development into real life workable scenarios.

Enjoy the read!

What is Action Learning?

The concept of Action Learning was introduced during the late 1920s to the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, by a group of research scientists, including EB Rutherford and JJ
Thompson. They felt that questioning their own actions - both successes and failures - in a deliberate, precise way and reflecting on them, allowed them to gain insight into how to proceed and act more appropriately. One of the members, Professor Reg Revans, developed these reflective practices into a powerful learning process for practitioners and academics: Action Learning.

Action Learning is based on the relationship between reflection and action, where the focus is on the issues and problems that individuals bring to the group, and planning future action with the structured attention and support of that group. Put simply, it is about 'solving problems and getting things done' while also learning and developing. It is therefore neatly underpinned by the 'Kolb Learning Cycle' of experiential learning where the stages of reflection and generalisation are worked through within the Set.

A major advantage of Action Learning is that participants are able to look at the real problems which concern them, rather than considering hypothetical ones, and they are responsible for the selection of the topic(s) or problem(s) discussed.

An action learning programme involves the following key elements:

The Set:
a group of usually 5 - 8 people who meet regularly.

The Projects:
each participant works on a project or task over the life of the set

The Set Facilitator:
who helps the group to work and learn together

What are the benefits?

Action Learning gives participants the opportunity to:

* learn from each other and engage in shared learning;

* enhance the opportunities given to learn more about each others' institutions pracices

* support innovation;

* allow time for reflection on current practice but encourage action, in confidence and outside the normal workplace;

* allow participants to highlight problems / areas where they have special interest, strength or weakness, without risk;

* enable participants to deal with the kind of management problems which cannot easily be resolved in-house or through external lectures / seminars;

* give enough time to build up strong relationships and networks outside seminar or lecture based sessions;

* enable participants to write an action plan of at least three points to put into practice after each module, if this is what they agree;

* develop both their personal and professional skills and competencies.

The 'learning' is a function of:

* programmed knowledge, whether provided by the Set or others as agreed;

* questioning, which is fundamental to Action Learning; action; reflection;

* time (Action Learning is not a 'quick fix', although learning often gathers momentum over time as the Set learns to question in many different ways, explore, trust, reflect and discuss openly).

MTD's range of subjects for Action Learning Sets include:

- Time management
- Project management
- Communication skills
- Presentation skills
- Influencing skills
- Negotiating skills
- Networking skills
- Management skills
- Leadership skills
- Coaching skills
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Dealing with difficult people
- Continuous improvement
- Change management
- Sales skills
- Personal development
- Customer service
- Quality
- Personal development
- Managing effective meetings
- Train the trainer
- Personal confidence building
- Motivating yourself and others
- Team building
- Conflict management
- Assertiveness skills
- Complaint handling

Logistics & Costs

Each set usually lasts for 3 or 4 sessions if they are capped.

Sessions can last up to half a day each which means valuable time is not spent away from the office.

Costs per Action Learning Set are calculated at the rate of �995 + vat per day.

For example;

An Action Learning Set that is 4 sessions of half a day equates to 2 full days.

I hope this helps you out.

Related Articles
  Small Business Owners - How To Overcome Fear Of Failure?
  Sales Training - Make sure you choose one that understands the stages of learning
  The Purpose of Work
  ALIVE - 5 happiness factors
  The 7 Universal Laws of Learning

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts
Re: Blog sells for up to $15 million - Action speaks louder than dream. What are we doing about GT suggestion? We can make this work in 2010
Re: My Favourite 7 Boldest Entrepreneur Moves of All Time - Hi Evan, I have a new suggestion for "Boldest Entrepreneur Moves of All Time" and a suggestion for your Learning from the Masters series: 1. Boldest Entrepreneur Moves of All Time = Christopher Columbus: "... he saw the possibility of treasure and commerce where others saw only danger. He committed so wholeheartedly to that vision that not even dozens of rejections and ongoing penury could dissuade him from pursuing a journey to Asia via the West. He built on his technical strengths as a seaman to plan a viable journey and eventually marshal an expedition." - Christopher Hoenig, 6 Essential Secrets for Thinking on a New Level I bought Hoenig's book about 10 years ago but couldn't make head or tail of it then... reading it now and finding it inspirational... 2. Nomination for Learning from the Masters video: Dee Hock, founder of VISA. (Source = Hoenig.)
Re: 3 Ways I Used Twitter To Grow My Business This Week - Hi Olivia, It seems you are working in the area of leadership area. Is Leadership = Learning? I am looking for some good books on strategy? Which one do you recommend? Thanks, Robert
Advertisement that sales - Plan your marketing programme. It should include commitment to capital resources. If you run a small business, you aren't likely to have a generous enough advertising budget that will allow you to run costly branding or campaign ads. Every advertisement you run must convey to your prospect a solid offer and attractive reasons to act quickly, and result in increased sales and an enhanced image of your company. Good advertising always pays its own way through increased sales and profits, improved cost-effectiveness, reduced selling costs and shortened selling cycles. A useful formula that will help you increase the effectiveness of your advertising efforts is A-I-D-A, which stands for Attention, Interest, Desire and Action. When creating an advertisement, always remind yourself that it should: (1) capture your prospects' Attention, (2) arouse their Interest in your offer, (3) create their Desire for your product or service, and (4) provide a powerful spur to Action, that is, turn your prospect into buyers. Remember, bad advertising is an unproductive expense, and good advertising is an investment in future profits!
Re: Watch What you Read - I agree. i believe more video's should be like Jeffery Gitomers video's under his Sales rant. They are typically not more than 3 minutes. His model seems to be; 1. Main Message (or Point) 2. Example 3. Next steps to put it into Action take away the extra "blabber" and you've got viewers that will come back.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

A New Year in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Qualities of Leadership Part 1

Selling with Humor (and a Sorry Butt)

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.