Rapport between people in an action learning group is essential for its success
Why?
Most participants need to feel at ease with their fellow group members before presenting a problem, challenge or an issue.
It is the role of the action learning facilitator to model good rapport and encourage a group to open up.
To encourage rapport I generally start off with the following activity:
‘6 Things’ – Action Learning Warm Up
Give all group members a handout which has the following written statements:
6 Things I would like to keep about my job/role
6 Things I would like to change about my job/role
- Ask group members to spend 5 minutes jotting down responses to both statements
- Divide the group up into pairs
- Each pair decides who is A and B
- A people speak for one minute about the things they would like to keep and for one minute about the things they would like to change.
- B people paraphrase back to A people what they heard
- Switch and do exactly the same
Facilitator’s role:
- Facilitator needs to keep a careful eye on the time. When working in pairs I generally ask everyone to start the activity at the same time, and I call out when the first and last minutes are up.
- Ask for feedback about the exercise, e.g. when did people feel most at ease, listening or speaking?
- Ask participants to bring the ‘6 Things’ handout to future action learning meetings
Outcomes of Activity:
By paraphrasing, participants begin to practise an essential skill in action learning – active listening
By carefully listening to one another rapport is very likely
Participants start thinking and then talking about possible issues relating to work
The 6 things participants would like to change becomes a reference point for a facilitator. For example, when at future action learning meetings, participants say ‘We have no issues’. This is a cue for the facilitator to say, ‘well, let’s have a look at the ‘6 Things’ handout you completed on our first meeting together – perhaps there is something on there you could present?’
Rapport between people in an action learning group is essential for its success
Why?
Most participants need to feel at ease with their fellow group members before presenting a problem, challenge or an issue.
It is the role of the action learning facilitator to model good rapport and encourage a group to open up.
To encourage rapport I generally start off with the following activity:
'6 Things' - Action Learning Warm Up
Give all group members a handout which has the following written statements:
6 Things I would like to keep about my job/role
6 Things I would like to change about my job/role
- Ask group members to spend 5 minutes jotting down responses to both statements
- Divide the group up into pairs
- Each pair decides who is A and B
- A people speak for one minute about the things they would like to keep and for one minute about the things they would like to change.
- B people paraphrase back to A people what they heard
- Switch and do exactly the same
Facilitator’s role:
- Facilitator needs to keep a careful eye on the time. When working in pairs I generally ask everyone to start the activity at the same time, and I call out when the first and last minutes are up.
- Ask for feedback about the exercise, e.g. when did people feel most at ease, listening or speaking?
- Ask participants to bring the ‘6 Things’ handout to future action learning meetings
Outcomes of Activity:
By paraphrasing, participants begin to practise an essential skill in action learning - active listening
By carefully listening to one another rapport is very likely
Participants start thinking and then talking about possible issues relating to work
The 6 things participants would like to change becomes a reference point for a facilitator. For example, when at future action learning meetings, participants say ‘We have no issues’. This is a cue for the facilitator to say, ‘well, let’s have a look at the ‘6 Things’ handout you completed on our first meeting together – perhaps there is something on there you could present?’
