As mentioned before, the competencies developed in
action learning involve individual, group and organizational
skills and knowledge.
Individually, group members learn such skills as critical
reflection, inquiry and questioning, systems thinking,
active listening, self-awareness, empathy, problem
solving, decision making, presenting and facilitating.
The learning process leads to becoming aware of, and
changing as necessary, one’s beliefs, values and basic
assumptions.
Leadership skills are another important set of skills
learned through action learning. For instance, action
learning initiatives help group members build what is
now known as emotional intelligence, which consists of
five primary abilities: self-awareness, managing emotions,
motivating oneself, empathy and handling relationships.
Every leadership skill just listed can be
demonstrated and used in the action learning setting.
Action learning also develops group skills. Action
learning groups quickly mold into high-performance
work teams. For example, all high-performance work
teams have certain characteristics, such as clear and common
goals, a willingness to work with others, and the
courage to question others. Action learning develops
these attributes. Since the first stage of the action learning
project is defining the goal, for example, the outcome is a
clear and common goal for the team. And since one of
the ground rules of action learning is that all statements
are in response to questions, the courage to question others
is quickly developed in even the shyest participant.
Finally, action learning builds learning organizations.
Learning organizations have four components: increased
learning skills and capacities, a transformed organizational
culture and structure, an involvement of the entire business chain in the learning process, and enhanced
capability to manage knowledge.
Action learning helps organizations construct these
four components. For example, group members learn
the principles and theories of effective learning, the different
types of learning, and the key skills of learning.
Action learning develops a culture and values that see
learning as essential for corporate success. Action learning
involves not only staff, but also vendors, suppliers,
customers and even the community in learning. And
action learning helps the organization learn to acquire,
create, store and transfer knowledge.