Action learning sets     I facilitate action learning sets for groups of four or more consultants who want a platform (and a fixed series of sessions) where they can meet together for support, feedback, challenge and input, as they proceed to achieve their individual tasks or goals.       The way action learning works is that the individual consultant creates a "learning contract", which the group helps them define. They then disappear for a month to read, research, act, explore, or experience – whatever they need to do to take them along the learning path – and they meet again a month later and reflect on how well they are progressing. The monthly meeting is a reflection time for each member of the group to reflect on what they have achieved, what they need to do now to go forward to the next stage, and how they integrate the learning they're acquiring so that it becomes a part of their practice. Putting punctuation periods in to reflect on their experience each month has a huge benefit. When you link a reflection process to periods of action, the learning is lasting, and has the potential to deliver positive and permanent change. The monthly meeting is a reflection time for each member of the group to reflect on what they have achieved, what they need to do now to go forward to the next stage, and how they integrate the learning they're acquiring so that it becomes a part of their practice. Putting punctuation periods in to reflect on their experience each month has a huge benefit. When you link a reflection process to periods of action, the learning is lasting, and has the potential to deliver positive and permanent change. Action learning sets are especially valuable today, because in the day to day reality of working life, there is very little time to reflect. Instead, people simply experience, and because there's no reflection time they can usually only learn by trial and error. It's very easy to repeat the same mistake again and again, from one task to another, because you're not reflecting on how you're doing your work. Action learning sets help you break out of this negative cycle. For me, the two key aspects of working in this way are the value of having the confidential space to admit mistakes and areas of weakness; and the value of belonging to a group where you can harvest a range of supportive and challenging responses to the issues you present each month. The group is a microcosm of the big, wide world. It creates a personal awareness of how you are in the world, how you engage, build relationships, contract with others, manage conflict and handle feedback. For consultants running their own businesses, this is especially valuable. And at the same time, you get to hear several different views of how you might handle a client project.       Click here to view a video interview with Alison. "What they want from the group is challenging questions, feedback about feasibility..." Video also available in Real Player and Quicktime format.       © Alison Hodge 2009 Tel: 020 8995 5485