TRAINING IN VIRTUAL ACTION LEARNING FOR EAST MIDLANDS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Transcription

1 TRAINING IN VIRTUAL ACTION LEARNING FOR EAST MIDLANDS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Introduction Action learning is widely recognised as a powerful development tool for people and organisations and offers a structured approach for organisations who are seeking to encourage self-managed learning based in the workplace. It provides an opportunity to put established practice and development under the spotlight and create the opportunity for cross organisational learning. East Midlands Leadership Academy already has an established network of experienced action learning facilitators who are largely Heads of Service based in health organisations throughout the East Midlands. The Academy is hoping to train these experienced facilitators in the skills of virtual action learning facilitation (VAL) with the intention of establishing a pool of around 10 skilled VAL facilitators who could offer VAL sets for Clinical Commissioning Groups. This document outlines how Action Learning Associates (ALA) can provide a tailormade virtual action learning facilitator training programme for the East Midlands Leadership Academy pool of facilitators. Virtual Action Learning Virtual Action Learning offers a proven technique to brainstorm organisational challenges, find group solutions and generate innovative ideas in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable format. It is ideal for far flung teams or where time and the costs of travel to meetings can be an issue. ALA uses an audio conferencing facility or WebEx for virtual sets. Research shows an audio working environment can actually bring its own unique benefits to the action learning process. The results - sharpened listening skills, the ability to reflect more deeply and greater insight as well as the opportunity to hone virtual leadership skills. VAL has its own distinct process and action learning guidelines. An experienced facilitator steers the set through the virtual action learning process, modelling openness and providing a safe space for members to find solutions to problems and new ways of thinking. Virtual action learning facilitator training ALA will design a programme based on experiential learning to suit the Academy s needs. Our experience of teaching facilitation skills is that it is best achieved using action learning methodology so that skills are learnt and applied in rapid succession. We would split the cohort into two groups of five and each group will become a virtual action learning set in which every individual practices and improves their facilitation skills.

2 The core of the programme will be the virtual action learning process so that the group members experience facilitation as modelled by the trainer and practice facilitation within the safe learning environment of the group. A rigorous feedback process will enable each person to understand their own further development needs, and to prepare a personal action plan. The training programme starts with an initial one hour briefing session to explain the VAL process and for set members to contract together and agree individual aims and expectations. The training is delivered in four half day sessions (3 hours) over a period to be agreed with the commissioner. We recommend set members use a headset, set aside time to devote to the action learning process and work from a quiet location with no interruptions. A draft programme outlining broad content is below, and would be subject to further discussion about your needs. We provide an electronic version of a handbook for each participant and resource material on virtual working which can be reproduced in their work when setting up virtual sets. Our approach ALA uses a range of action learning models for both face to face and virtual working. The core elements of our approach to action learning are small groups of individuals working on real problems, using a refined questioning technique to examine the challenges that they face and identify new approaches, solutions and actions. The model we use was developed by Reg Revans and also draws on Chris Argyris' notion of Double Loop learning. We have two principal models of action learning, each of which can employ different techniques within a broad framework. The classic model of action learning: presenter offers a dilemma or new idea without interruption set members ask clarifying questions set members and presenter explore the dilemma/idea using open questions presenter is encouraged to formulate solutions/actions set and presenter offer reflections, summarise learning The peer consultancy model: presenter offers a dilemma or new idea without interruption set members ask clarifying questions set members and presenter explore the dilemma/idea using open questions presenter is invited to reformulate dilemma/idea with a clearer focus set members contribute to analysis (e.g. options, pros and cons, force field s analysis) and to solutions/action plan all reflect and summarise learning 2

3 Action Learning Associates Founded in 1998 to promote and develop action learning, we are the largest independent group of action learning professionals in the UK. We have extensive experience of providing face to face and virtual action learning across the public, private, voluntary and cultural sectors both in the UK and internationally. ALA is the leading provider of accredited action learning facilitator training in the UK and now regularly delivers training overseas including in Europe, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. Recent and former customers for training include Action for Children, Defra, Clore Social Leadership Programme, Devon & Cornwall County Councils, London Boroughs of Enfield & Hackney, Oxfam (in UK and Lebanon), Nissan, NHS Health Scotland, Universities of Edinburgh & Strathclyde and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) in Northern Ireland. Increasingly the company is providing virtual action learning sets, virtual support for trained facilitators and virtual accreditation sessions. Current and recent customer for virtual action learning include Heineken International (including delivery in other languages); British Council, Australia Council for the Arts, Christian Aid and International Creative Entrepreneurs. Managing Director, Ruth Cook runs regular courses for trained action learning facilitators who want to add virtual working to their facilitation skills. She has recently launched a new course offering ILM accredited action learning facilitator training delivered entirely virtually. No experience is necessary for this new virtual course and participants will learn the skills to facilitate both face to face and virtual sets. Costs Virtual Action Learning Facilitator Training Design, customer liaison, electronic copies of workbooks, administrative support for virtual sessions 1 hour briefing session (5 participants) Four virtual training sessions x 3 hours (5 participants) Total cost for one virtual training set (5 participants) 3,000 Total cost for two virtual training sets (10 participants) 6,000 Cost per person 600 The above costs do not include VAT. Participants pay for their own telephone calls if teleconference facilities used 3

4 Virtual action learning for facilitators East Midlands Leadership Academy Briefing session (one hour) Outline of VAL working Contracting Individual aims and expectations Session 1 (3 hours) Introduction to ALA s methodology Forming a new set introductions to each other Facilitated session with trainer modelling the approach Q&A on initial experience Session 2 (3 hours) Difference between VAL and face to face action learning Two people practicing facilitation and receiving feedback from peers and trainer Good practice in establishing new sets Session 3 (3 hours) Core competences of a facilitator Challenges and benefits of working virtually Two people practicing facilitation and receiving feedback from peers and trainer Session 4 (3 hours) Coping with challenging participants One person practicing facilitation and receiving feedback from peers and trainer Individual development plans We provide a handbook with useful resource material on virtual working and handout material which you can reproduce in your own work.

5 Ruth Cook 19 Sycamore Court, Royal Oak Yard, Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TR Tel & Fax: Web: Career and achievements to date In 1997 Ruth founded Action Learning Associates. She is now Managing Director of a company widely recognised as a high quality provider of action learning, action learning facilitator training, organisational development advice and implementation, team and Board facilitation and executive coaching. Before 1997 Ruth was a senior and successful director. Action Learning is a cost effective intervention which delivers managerial, leadership and organisational improvements. The company offers: Action learning sets for chief executives and senior managers, either within organisations and sectors or in mixed sets across sectors Accredited training in action learning facilitation, and a wide range of programmes which include project management, leadership, creating high performance teams, planning and evaluation, appraisal, business and service planning, and facilitation skills Virtual action learning (VAL) for global teams and VAL training for experienced facilitators Organisational development and consultancy on strategic planning, human resources, team building and change Facilitation of Boards and senior management teams Mentoring and Executive coaching Action Learning Associates has 20 associates. Examples of Ruth s personal work include: co-ordinating and delivery of action learning sets for participants on Ernst & Young s accelerated leadership programme project management and delivery of leadership and facilitation skills training for a four year programme funded by the Cultural Leadership Programme for 150 leaders in the UK creative and cultural sector delivering regular accredited open programmes for sole traders and small consultancies for the UK and overseas in action learning facilitation action learning facilitator training programmes for organisations including Nissan, the Metropolitan Police, Oxfam, global consultancy YSC, University of Edinburgh, Cancer Research UK, Australia Council for the Arts and independent consultants in Germany. design of a five year programme of action learning sets within Creative Partnerships/ Creativity, Culture & Education, facilitating sets for senior management and delivering a facilitator training programme to develop in-house capacity incorporation of action learning for Fellows of the Clore Social Leadership Programme project management and delivery of a programme of 12 action learning sets for the Rural Payments Agency in a critical turnaround programme

6 delivery of action learning facilitator training to young women leaders in the Middle East, an innovative pilot programme by Oxfam to strengthen women s participation in social movements for change global virtual action learning sets for the British Council as part of the Cultural Leadership International programme and for British Council Australia as part of a programme for indigenous cultural leaders senior team development for South London & Maudsley NHS Trust, New Economics Foundation, Refugee Council, Society of Friends (Quakers), VSO Malawi, Basic Needs, Mind and British Red Cross advising the Health Foundation on the role of external leadership development consultants in delivering programmes and providing quality assurance of their work for 5 years facilitating the Board of World Development Movement to review their governance arrangements facilitating a group of UK philanthropists with a record in international development to agree how to improve the effectiveness of their trusts and foundations Other customers include: The Body Shop, Yorkshire Building Society, Citizens Advice, RNIB, Clore Leadership Programme, ActionAid, National Culture Forum, Devon County Council, Cornwall County Council, London Business School, Rethink, Overseas Development Institute, NHS Health Scotland, ICA, Home Office, London & Quadrant Trust, St Mungo s, The National Trust, Financial Services Authority. Career and achievements before 1997 Ruth was a trainer/consultant in the private sector where she delivered management development training programmes for a wide range of organisations. As Head of Benefits in London Borough of Greenwich, from , with a multi-million budget, she transformed a poorly performing housing benefit service, radically improved morale, and co-ordinated the Council s anti-poverty strategy. She was a member of the Chief Executive s Senior Management Team, and widely recognised as an effective leader. Prior to 1991 she worked as a Law Centre advisor, probation officer, social worker and headed a women s equality unit. Qualifications MBA, 1998 (Open University) BA (Hons), (Nottingham University) Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, (London School of Economics) Diploma in Social Administration, (London School of Economics) Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessor, 1995 (Oxford) Accredited by ILM to deliver action learning facilitator training, 2008 This is a summary CV; please ask if you would like more information on any aspect. 6