Continued from previous page Over several sessions the participants were helped by their group members to find breakthrough strategies to their respective problems. The problem as presented initially by a participant often is not the real problem. The first task of the Action Learning Group is to help the problem presenter reframe the problem so that it represents the core issues to be addressed. In one TLDP cohort, the reframed problems indicated that participants did not know how to do the following: build and maintain effective stakeholder relations; facilitate collaborative and inclusive planning; sustain optimal levels of employee engagement. The Action Learning Groups generated strategies for resolving these difficulties. In addition to having mixed cohorts as in the TLDP, CARICAD administers leadership development programmes exclusive to specific organisations like eGOV Jamaica Ltd. and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The single problem, multi-session approach was used in these programmes. Each group is assigned a single problem deemed to be urgent and significant to the organisation. CARICAD would have engaged the executive leadership of the organisation prior to the programme to identify the top problems. In an Action Learning session each participant must select a specific leadership behaviour they intend to practice for the duration of the session. At the end, other participants will give each member specific feedback on how the skill or behaviour had been demonstrated during the session. Leadership skills used in the sessions included strategic thinking; asking powerful questions; creativity; active listening; empathy; showing respect for others; building on the ideas of others; systems thinking; inspiring others and being results-oriented. Several participants claimed that the Action Learning sessions helped them to entertain different perspectives on the problem being addressed and to find breakthrough solutions that they had not considered before. Here are some participant comments about Action Learning from the Leadership Development programmes administered by CARICAD for the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and eGOV Jamaica Ltd.: “I have accepted action learning as a powerful tool that can be used to arrive at "breakthrough" solutions to problems. By having its ground rules in place and people asking powerful questions, limitless ideas are generated toward a meaningful solution.” [Anthony Clarke – eGOV Jamaica Ltd.] “Action Learning has allowed my thoughts and opinions to be expressed by asking powerful questions to unearth stimulating statements of discussions aimed at fast-tracking problem resolutions.” [Shakony Thaxter – eGOV Jamaica Ltd.] “Action learning was quite interesting as I saw the importance of asking powerful questions and how questions [as opposed to making statements] stimulate others to be less Defiant, less Defensive, and less Dependent. This is also a powerful strategy to use while trying to solve complex problems.” [Kerisha Powell – eGOV Jamaica Ltd.] “Action learning has allowed me to sit back, assess, think deeply, ask probing questions, self-critique and have confidence in my action planning within a team environment and systems framework.” [Allister Hodge – ECCB] “Action learning sessions were very engaging, informative, and help to change your mindset towards working with your colleagues.” [Richard Charles – ECCB] “It increases engagement from all participants and allows the team to remain focused on the task at hand, removing all ambiguity.” [Beverly Lugay – ECCB] Action Learning continues to hold much promise for leadership development, problem-solving and team development across the Caribbean. Key stakeholders in the region would have to agree on the most significant and urgent problems of the region, identify a problem owner who has the interest, authority, and ability to implement the solutions; select a diverse group of persons to constitute the Action Learning group and engage an Action Learning Coach to work with the group. 20
21 Publizr Home