Learning gets results
The amazing thing is that when teams prioritise learning to be on equal footing with action, they become more effective. That’s perhaps a little surprising, since learning takes time! However, teams that take the time to learn not only still get the job done, but get it done better.
Peer Action Learning sets are small teams of 6 to 8 members that work together to solve problems, and at the same time learn. They make entirely explicit their dual intention of planning action to solve problems and building personal and collective capability through learning. Consequently, each of their meetings provides time for members to plan action required to solve individual, team or organisational problems AND practice leadership skills and reflect on their real time growth.
Action Learning has credibility
Since its inception in the 1940’s, Action Learning has evolved and deepened considerably, and subsequently become a powerful approach to creating sustainable change that has been adopted right across the world. Many and varied published case studies now exist making plain the power of Peer Action Learning sets to provide breakthrough strategies to wicked problems, and enable personal and collective transformation. It is indeed a primary strategy to create a learning organisation.
The Change Company as Expert
The Change Company has developed considerable know how in facilitating Peer Action Learning sets to become instruments of change for individuals, team and organisations. Our Director Dr. Paul Donovan has published original research about the use of Peer Action Learning sets to create organisational change, presented that research to peak international Action Learning bodies, and applied his and others latest research to real organisational challenges.
Honest, consultative and productive.
Fun and productive!
Thanks Paul so much for your warm facilitation skills which you use with such smooth and compassionate ease. You bring a wonderful atmosphere to our board meetings, and I really appreciate what you do and how you do it!
The program supported me by showing me how to handle reactiveness, and widen the angle on how I see things. The 360 review and the one-on-one coaching which supported it was the most useful part for me. I have attended other courses, but this was one of the best.
Very effective way of generating ideas. I am looking forward to undertaking this process in the regional office.
Paul is a very passionate and entertaining facilitator!
It was fantastic … a very collaborative and fruitful approach to strategic planning. I have appreciated being part of this process, and particularly seeing the culmination of many different colleagues’ perspectives being brought into a more concise and effective set of objectives. Paul’s overall approach to collaboration and planning would be beneficial to many colleagues at all different stages of their career.
The whole program was brilliant and I enjoyed every bit of it! I am already taking on board doing different styles of meetings depending on their purpose and I am more motivated to do this. I am 100% sure I will use the models and am thinking I will use the ‘analysis kite’. This program is different as you can use the content straight away due to its relevance to what we’re doing.
For me, the course created a whole new way of relating to people – whether it be in a meeting or on a one-to-one basis. The whole course was packed with good information and was good fun.
Paul facilitated the group very well. Paul managed and navigated us through it in a way so that everyone was heard and it was a very safe environment … The role playing was exceptionally helpful as it helped me understand the situation from both people’s perspective.
Definitely a helpful program in providing practical tools for a different way of managing a team.
Insightful, confronting at times, but very valuable time with our leadership team, skilfully facilitated and guided by Paul. The immediate result is a stronger connection between us – being vulnerable in front of each other breaks some barriers.
It was brilliantly presented for both work and life. I was able to improve the outlook of how I was perceived by others by making subtle changes that realistically have a major impact. The facilitators were very passionate and thought provoking.
The program was interesting and very positive. The group was surprised by the outcome. The approach that Paul used for the group to engage in the task and communicate was not confronting, very inviting and inclusive, for all group members to participate. The actions that were decided are being implemented now.
The program was a great opportunity to have really in-depth yet flexible discussions and explore. Anne Maree was a wonderful facilitator.
Definitely one of the best courses I have attended! Thanks!
Professionalism, frankness, openness. Comfort and safety in the environment. Calmness. Impacting, uncomfortable, and effective. Any change in any system results in discomfort. Paul’s session provided the tools and awareness to sit in the discomfort and know that it’s okay. To stop the “rescuer” mentality so often present in leaders of “fixing all the problems”. Paul’s facilitated session provided me with the tools and awareness to take a different perspective on challenges within the team and organisation.
To find myself on the leadership wheel was great. This gave me insight into how I can improve as a leader, it also helped me with strategies for one of my team … I gained confidence in how to approach my leadership in a new way which helped to reenergise me … I think all leaders could benefit from Paul’s approach and teaching.
It was great to have a whole day with Paul – away from the office and all of the distractions. I learnt a lot about myself, and was amazed about how much Paul could understand me so quickly based on our discussions. I have incorporated some of the learnings immediately into my thinking and day to day work.
Emotional and insightful.
[The program provided] a lot of good insights on how the team saw the management and their views on opportunities to improve. … We have understood a lot more of the team’s feedback as a result.
Paul’s coaching has been timely and has allowed me to stop and reflect on how things are going with myself and my team. I’ve learnt about how to structure meetings, and how to have “difficult conversations”. It’s been great to freely chat about what is happening with the team – without any conflict or worries about confidentiality. I would definitely recommend this coaching.
We were fortunate to have Paul for two sessions and the results have been extremely powerful in helping achieve our goal as a High Performing Team. We have a large, dynamic, and growing team and with Paul’s expert facilitation we undertook Team Management Profiling to better understand each of our work preferences. This not only built relationships within the team quickly but helped provide a deeper appreciation of how we individually approached work, and importantly how we can best work together as a high performing team. To say the team has gelled since is an understatement.
We have also adopted the discipline of The Decision Making Kite Model and have found this to be a powerful tool leading to better meetings. My favourite initiative, however, is how we radicalised our senior leadership meetings and took them from a rolling set of minutes to an engaged and productive session where we collectively solve the real issues facing the team. Every time we have these meetings since we made the change as suggested by Paul I have at least one person come to me and say how good these meetings are!
I liked the tools provided to assist with opening a meeting. They are professional tools which start the meeting on a positive note, where the staff are likely to get connected and have input into the agenda.
