Action Learning Intentional learning from life, learning by doing May 2016 Learning Lab

Introductions – Kathleen Vaughan YALI Facilitator Cohorts 3 to 7, Self-Awareness, Design Driven Entrepreneurship Resource, Cohort 5 Based in Nairobi, Kenya

Introductions – Participant Community

In your chat window, please share the following: Name, Country A specific learning goal for the call Your contribution to others Example: 1) Kathy Vaughan, facilitator 2) sparking “learningful conversations” within the region 3) Being a connector

Our Roadmap Head-Heart-Hands: A leadership learning framework How we learn? What is Action Learning (or Learning by Doing) Tool: Experience & Skills Matrix The importance of Reflection The importance of Questions Live Coaching Taking the learning home

A leadership learning framework

Training – Coaching & Mentoring – In life/from experience 10 – 20 - 70 Training – Coaching & Mentoring – In life/from experience

3 Reasons to learn from experience Personal Life Experiences Provide Psychological Strength Personal Relationships Provide support for Handling Leadership Challenges Personal Loves provide Motivation & Opportunities to Learn Leadership Skills

Learning In Action What is one interpersonal challenge you are facing in your day-to-day work/experience? What challenges in your personal life is similar? What actions did you take to address the situation? What skills did you use? What did you learn to translate to your day-to-day challenge?

Matching Experiences to Skills & Development Outside Role & Experience Leadership Roles & Skills Planning an important social event Project management Parenting Interpersonal skills; appreciation of differences Traveling abroad operating with unfamiliar signals & incomplete information; becoming more comfortable in handling ambiguity YALI design challenge project Remote team work; perspective; conflict resolution skills

Your Experience & Skills Matrix

Learning=Performance+Questioning+Reflection L=P+Q+R Learning=Performance+Questioning+Reflection

REFLECTION What does the term mean to you? How is it a habit in your life? How might it achieve your leadership ambitions?

Good questions prompt reflection Allow us to reflect, to listen, to be creative, and to learn Give us time and space needed to stand back, reflect, unfreeze, and gain new perspectives Deliberate questions to clarify, to open up new avenues, to unpack, to offer ideas and insights, to learn Before solutions, allow us to diverge from the current thought and look at a different more systemic perspective rather than converge too quickly Seeds of solutions reside in questions

Action Learning uses reflection and the cycle of learning Stage 1: Having an experience L = P + Q + R Stage 4: Applying the learning Planning the next steps Stage 2: Reflecting on and analysing the experience Stage 3 : Concluding from the experience (Kolb 1984)

Coaching Live!

Key principles to remember No learning without action, no sober and deliberate action without learning We learn best when we directly involved in our own learning about a current life situation When we choose a learning experience, we usually learn more readily Applying that learning to our ambitions and goals, makes it more personally meaningful and of greater benefit to our vision

Taking the Learning Home Based on your leadership ambitions, what skills and experience do you need? What roles, relationships, activities and responsibilities, even challenges are you willing to take on in the near future? (Remember: you do not always need to succeed but you need to be willing to learn) Seek support from people who can provide feedback, give moral support, act as a sounding board. Use a coach or mentor. Monitor progress and celebrate success.

Asante Sana - ምንም አይደል– Merci – Thank you! Asante Sana -  ምንም አይደል– Merci – شكرا – Murakôze Kathleen.Vaughan@xponentially.com @xponentially