‘To venture involves risks, but with the potential for great gain.’ (Fook & Askeland) A critical success factor in coaching and Action Learning is a willingness for participants to disclose opportunities or challenges they are facing, in order that they may learn through critical reflection and increase their sense of agency. At times, this may involve surfacing subconscious personal and cultural assumptions to enable self- and peer-examination. In doing so, we may draw on fields of learning and practice including Chris Argyris and Donald Schön’s double and triple-loop learning. The originator of Action Learning, Reg Revans, urged, ‘Swap your difficulties, not your cleverness’. Yet, although this can sound simple in principle, in some contexts it may run against norms and conventions of behaviour. In some cultures, for instance, to disclose a difficulty – especially in a group – could feel politically risky or even shameful. If a person were to share openly in that context, peers from the same cultural group could also feel anxious for that person and desire to protect them. This safeguarding instinct may be amplified in health and social sector contexts where participants may be used to working with vulnerable people and groups and-or have lived experience of trauma. If their professional training has evolved from or been influenced by counselling or therapy, they may find posing high-challenge questions uncomfortable or threatening; especially if they associate asking searching questions with, for instance, investigations or judgements re. access to services. In some cultures, to disclose personal rather than strictly situational challenges can be regarded as inappropriate and unprofessional. In some cultures, rationality and objectivity may be regarded as having higher value than intuition, subjectivity or emotion. Participants may find themselves preoccupied with problem analysis and formulating definitive answers and solutions, rather than enabling a person to sit with ambiguity, uncertainty and tension. A vital role for a coach or facilitator is to build trust, curiosity and critical reflexivity; drawing on any filters, biases and experiences that emerge as tools for transformation.
12 Comments
Jon Barker
22/3/2023 03:14:39 pm
Thanks for sharing such a helpful blog, Nick. It helps me understand why some of the wheels fell off when I tried doing action learning!
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Nick Wright
22/3/2023 03:17:18 pm
Hi Jon. You're welcome. Yes, in case of interest, here's a link to a recording of a short webinar on 'what makes the difference' with successful action learning ventures:
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Sally Edwards
22/3/2023 03:25:15 pm
Hey Nick. That's so true about people in different cultures and situations. Many coaching models are built on values and assumptions that only work in Western cultures.
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Nick Wright
22/3/2023 03:29:40 pm
Thank you, Sally. I agree and, as somebody steeped in Western culture since birth, this is a constant learning journey for me. On the cross-cultural coaching theme, these short related pieces may be of interest?
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Ann Wheatman
22/3/2023 03:34:26 pm
Hello Nick. I run action learning sets for Nurses who come to work in the UK from other countries. It's part of their orientation and CPD. I hadn't thought about cultural issues in action learning. I have seen some people very quiet and thought they weren't interested. Can you point me to any other resources to help me do this better?
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Nick Wright
22/3/2023 03:39:24 pm
Hi Ann. Thank you for posting such an honest response and for your curiosity to learn further in this area. It could be worth having a glance at the short pieces I have signposted Sally to (above).
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Mark Sutherland
22/3/2023 03:43:07 pm
You're right about the risk that asking direct questions can create for some people, Nick. Especially if they're used to having to justify themselves over and over again. Questions can feel more like interrogation than a chance to learn. Any tips to get over this? Thanks Nick.
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Nick Wright
22/3/2023 03:47:03 pm
Thanks Mark - and well said. I offer some brief reflections and ideas here, based on my own attempts to navigate through such issues:
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Helen Webb
22/3/2023 09:25:46 pm
I like that you emphasis agency, Nick, not just thinking and solutions.
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Nick Wright
22/3/2023 09:47:23 pm
Thank you, Helen. Yes - for me, agency sits closely with choice and traction. On those related themes, these short pieces may be of interest too?
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Andrea Hanson
23/3/2023 09:43:30 am
Thanks for including the link to the Fook & Askeland article Nick. I'm a social worker and it rings true with everything I experience with supervision groups! Thanks.
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Nick Wright
23/3/2023 09:45:54 am
Hi Andrea. You're welcome. Some colleagues sent me the article this week and I thought it was excellent. This blog is my attempt to recontextualise some of Fook & Askeland's insights and ideas into a coaching and action learning context.
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Nick WrightI'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? Get in touch! Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
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