One of the passion projects I\u2019ve been pursuing over the last few months where my work schedule has been a bit more spacious is Action Learning Sets. With 5 other lovely humans from a freelance network I\u2019m part of, we embarked on an exploration of what they involved and how they would benefit us. One of the things I love most about this network is people\u2019s openness to new experiences, their willingness to invest and their ability to give phenomenal feedback. So how did we get on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019re about developing a community of practice \u2013 a group of colleagues coming together to collectively explore issues or problems. Each time they meet, everyone presents which issue they would like to bring, and a vote selects which one the session focuses on. Like coaching, the group don\u2019t direct or advise. Instead, they help the presenter to explore, reflect, analyse, and decide their own action plan. It\u2019s usually a group of 5-7 individuals, and they can come from the same team or organisation, but there\u2019s also power in coming from different roles, organisations or even industries. It\u2019s the common goal of exploration, understanding and insight that brings them together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We rarely get the time and space to do deep exploration about something we want to change, and this is particularly true for those who run their own businesses. We\u2019re either so busy doing the doing or we simply don\u2019t have the team as freelancers, to do the work. Action Learning Sets are all about quality time, where questions aren\u2019t directive. Instead, they act as gentle nudges to help the presenter gain a better understanding of an issue, why it\u2019s important, what they want to change, why and how they might get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A snapshot of what participants said they had gained from their experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI underestimated how lovely both the host and other participants would be – and how full of wisdom and generous sharing. I learnt from all the sessions, not only the one where I was pitching.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInsights\/ fresh perspective on things I’d been struggling with, a sense of solidarity, it was also really interesting to hear about other people’s challenges and reflect on similarities and differences.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA powerful space to address a personal challenge that’s been gnawing at me for some time. I came away from the session focused on my issue with a sense of clarity, energy and purpose.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It was something I loved running, learnt a lot from and am really excited to continue with as we go into a new year. It\u2019s a powerful method to build trust and connection, as well as the skills of deep listening and reflective practice. Here\u2019s to more in 2024!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo by Tadeusz Lakota<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the passion projects I\u2019ve been pursuing over the last few months where my work schedule has been a bit more spacious is Action Learning Sets. With 5 other lovely humans from a freelance network I\u2019m part of, we embarked on an exploration of what they involved and how they would benefit…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[37],"tags":[13,11,12,21,25,10],"class_list":["post-592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-development","tag-charity","tag-consultant","tag-freelance","tag-non-profit","tag-self-employment","tag-start-up-2"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t