Some of the benefits of Action Learning

Individuals benefit from:

• Having the opportunity to reflect
• Practising the postponement of judgement, providing an opportunity for new connections and answers to arise
• Receiving support and challenge in relation to specific issues
• Being held accountable for actions and their impact
• Setting goals, developing options and taking action that would not have been possible working on their own
• Learning to listen carefully, ask powerful questions and offer ideas, without telling others what to do
• Learning about group dynamics and how to contribute effectively within a group.

Some of the above is taken from De Haan, Erik (2005) Learning with Colleagues: An Action Guide for Peer Consultation, Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke.

Organisations benefit from:

• Staff who can listen to, and work with, others
• People who take responsibility for their actions and the impact of those actions
• New perspectives on real issues  – often leading to breakthroughs on long-standing issues
• Enhanced confidence to bring about change
• Greater self awareness
• A clearer understanding of how learning occurs
• Reduced stress

Organisations large and small, including GEC, ICI, Motorola, Texaco, Prudential, Zeneca, Siemens, Lloyds TSB, Littlewoods, the Financial Services Authority, the NHS, water utilities, local authorities and government departments use Action Learning. Business schools, universities and colleges including Henley and Ashridge, the Universities of Lancaster and Manchester and the International Management Centres Association  incorporate Action Learning into their activities.

‘We learn most when faced with a real problem which we are obliged to solve.’ Lord Weinstock, Managing Director, GEC

‘I started this course for the security of a qualification but I found that security in the learning.’ Student on MSc by Action Learning, Manchester Polytechnic.