Author Archive
Why Attend a WIAL Conference
WIAL conferences, whether they are local, regional, or global, bring Action Learning to life. Participants share the camaraderie of connecting with old friends while establishing new ones. Speakers range from those focused on the theme to those focused on Action Learning. The one thing they have in common is the intersection between the two.
UWI Cave Hill Campus Harvard National Model United Nations Contingent
As part of its pro bono efforts, WIAL Caribbean assisted the contingent from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus that is preparing to be on the team that will represent the university at the Harvard National Model United Nations in 2019. The group is seeking to develop leadership abilities in its members and to become a more effective team. WIAL Caribbean used Action Learning, first introducing the students to the process and then coaching Action Learning sessions with them as they worked on real-life problems they had identified earlier. The participants quickly grasped the essential elements of Action Learning and the problem presenter indicated that the session had shifted her perspectives on the problem and allowed her to see options that she had not previously considered.
Coordinator, Annika Bellot, who is also Vice President of the Students Guild said:
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
Part way through the session, one of the members mentioned a meeting they have that will require them to leave early. Several other participants mention they need to go to the same meeting, leaving only 2 participants for the session.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
The team races to consensus on the problem. They are saying the same words but have not really talked about what the words mean.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
You recently attending training and learned a new way of doing root cause analysis. You know if you share this with the team they will be able to identify the real problem much quicker.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
The team is having trouble coming to consensus.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
Hearing the initial statement of the problem you (as coach) are clear what the real problem is. The team heads down a different path with it.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
The team has gotten off track with their questions and is now investigating an unrelated issue.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
A single team member is asking all the questions of the problem presenter, the remainder sitting back observing.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
Several team members are sitting with their arms folded across their chest.
Children’s House of Santo Amaro
The Casa da Criança de Santo Amaro (CCSA) is a non-profit organization assisting children and adolescents in situations of social vulnerability. Its mission is to support the development and training of these small citizens through its three services: Institutional Reception of Children and Adolescents (SAICA), Home House and School Shift Period (CCA). The organization intends to offer a warm environment, based on respect and affection, that enables the integral development of the children and adolescents.
The CCSA is composed of multidisciplinary professional and volunteer teams. The management staff is formed of a President and 11 directors, all volunteers, who usually follow up the routine activities of the organization. CCSA’s main challenge is to restructure activities, establish new responsibilities and competencies, integrate volunteers into administrative decisions, identify key processes and prepare for the succession process of the board. A process of professionalization of the house management began four years ago, reducing conflicts between the Board, Staff and Volunteers.
The resources are allocated to the day-to-day issues of the entity leaving in the background investment in solutions and management alternatives. The team decided to start the Action Learning program by the CCA. As a training opportunity for Action Learning Coaches, aligned with the WIAL mission, we agreed about a project with 10 Action Learning sessions. Each session was 2 hours and took place between April and July 2017. We put focus on the group diversity with representatives of the employees, members of the board and volunteers. Beatriz, who is the current president, director in charge of human resources and the coordinator of the service participated in all the meetings.
Problems and Actions We decided to work on the problems raised by the group in each session and the problem was chosen in a democratic and consensual way. Many problems were raised, such as lack of clarity in the processes, lack of transparent rules for hiring new employees, lack of clarity regarding the role and rules for volunteers’ work, lack of information flow among the different groups of workers and staff, bad communication among staff , presidency, and volunteers. At each meeting, the problems were explored and another vision emerged, more comprehensive and involving everyone, that facilitated the generation of actions for respective solutions.
Learnings Participants described the key learning: the importance of sharing problems, listening to each other with no judgment. Sometimes, a problem has a simple solution and looking at it from different perspectives is helpful to see the solution. Participants noted their progress throughout the process and realized that nowadays the problems are discussed more naturally. Everyone related with the problem is involved in a participative way. They know that there is still a long way to go, but they have been awakened and helped to think about their own problems.
Beatriz’s testimonial (President of CCSA) Since mid-April, CCSA employees were awarded a collective coaching program called the WIAL Action Learning. A methodology for solving complex, important and urgent problems and developing leadership skills. The format is brilliant because it allows small groups to think about a real problem in a deep but objective way. From consensus on the problem or challenge, participants create a plan of action and act on what is necessary for its implementation. What fascinated me the most is the way that they approach the problems: 1- always present a real problem. 2 – the groups are composed by one or more members of each area (without established hierarchy) 3 – solutions emanate from the group and an action plan is established at each meeting. 4 – everyone can express themselves by creating an environment that is both free and respectful.
The CCSA staff experience is very productive and has brought a real change. These changes were perceived in the day-to-day life of the institution, such as when each one began to address their problems and most importantly the way in which people came to listen to the other. A genuine listening.