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?’
