Summer newsletter 2023 article
Having just finished running our Stretching Your Practice course we thought we’d share how we can use resources to bring that lighter touch, that brighter light, that lengthening of focus, into our Action Learning.
Over the years we have developed several resources to add to our Action Learning toolkits. In this article Janie will describe two ALC resources – the Question Bank and Word Cards, and explore some other ideas for developing your own resources.
What is the value in using resources? Surely the most important thing is for people to be focused on listening, questioning and supporting the issue holder. Don’t resources just confuse and distract from the main intention?
We need to be careful about how and when we introduce resources. We need to consider:
Will they add value?
What impact will they have on the mood and energy?
How will people react to using them?
Will they bring a lightening or a deepening touch to the session?
Are we just using a tool or resource for distraction, or to meet our own need as facilitator?
So let’s start with some light, bright, easy to-pick-up resources.
Post-it Notes
Can be physical sticky notes or an application if virtually (whiteboard/Jam Board).
You need easily accessible resources – pens and a pile of post-its for in person, application open and set up ready for screen sharing if working online.
Clear instructions are key when using any resource or tool.
Ways to use Post-its
Setting off a round
The issue holder presents as usual.
Set members write their question on post-it.
Each set member reads out their question and gives it to the issue holder.
The issue holder decides which question to start with. They don’t have to answer all, just one and the session goes from there.
Great way to get everyone involved.
Help focus attention on question crafting
Use the post-it questions as an opportunity to support developing question skills.
Invite set members to reflect on the type and quality of the questions raised.
Identify type of question and reframe or rephrase to craft more insightful or succinct questions.
Question storm
The issue holder presents as usual.
Set members write down as many questions as they can (one per post-it).
Issue holder doesn’t answer any but listens and addresses the themes, raising what they spark initially.
Issue holder takes all the questions away to reflect on.
Great to use when short on time or for very reflective issue holders.
Feedback/appreciation round
Write a word of appreciation for fellow set members and hand them over.
2. Picture Gallery
Have fun and create your own through gathering a selection of postcards, pictures and images (art cards from museums, old calendars, magazines are good sources).
Make sure it consists of a wide range of images, depicting a variety of situations, that evoke different emotions and represent inclusion.
Can be used virtually (load up your images into a doc or pdf) or in person.
If on screen need easy way of people identifying which ones they choose such as a numbering system.
If in person you need enough images to give choices to everyone in the room - rule of thumb, enough for at least 3 choices per person.
Ways to use picture galleries:
Group check in – ask people to choose a card that represents how they feel, how they want to feel, how the time has been since last met, etc….
Feedback round – use cards to feedback what happened last time for them and what issue they are bringing to this session.
Group check out – could link to how they checked in – what image reflects how they feel as checking out.
Present using pictures - Issue holder chooses images to help them present their issue. Set members help them explore through asking questions based on the images chosen.
Images add a whole new dimension to an issue that we often wouldn’t have known or had words to describe. The pictures tap into people’s experiences and feelings and allow for a different exploration.
3. Using the Question Bank
The Question Bank is pack of open questions and can be used at different stages in an AL session – outcome, exploration, action and review.
Ways to use the Question Bank as a training/skill development tool.
If Set members are asking complicated, opinion based questions, or lots of closed questions, spread the cards out for set members to choose questions they want to ask. Invite them to reflect on how it is to ask short, content free questions.
Set members randomly choose questions from the pack and put them all on table for issue holder to decide which ones they want to go with. Useful in new Sets learning the process or where set members are asking too long and complicated questions.
Invite set members to ask outcome questions at the start before moving through explore questions then action ones to help the issue holder shape and define their actions. Invite reflection on what they are learning about effective questioning.
Use the review questions to support issues holder reflect on action and surface learning in their progress updates.
Value added: Questions are the solar power of Action Learning. The Question Bank encourages people to use a wider range of questions, to unhook from the familiar and favourite ones we choose, and to teach set members to ask short, focused, clean questions.
4. Objects
Collect small objects to put into your “bag”. Anything that might be a prompt or curiosity such as a juggling ball, model car, key, small toy, tiny book, crystal etc…… keep your eyes open for little gems and things to add to the bag.
More suited to in-person sessions when people can hold the objects and choose one easily.
Can be adapted for virtual either by asking set members in advance to bring an object or create a visual of everything in the bag and people can choose an item on screen.
Ways to use objects
Check in exercise - choose an object that describes how you are feeling at the start of the session – tell the group.
Check out at end of the session – choose an object again and describe the difference between the two.
Use the objects for presenting an issue – issue holder selects one or several that helps them describe the issue .
After a presentation - Set members choose an object that represents what they heard/ felt from the presentation.
Value Added: objects like the picture cards can bring in a new layer of description and reflection, helping people think differently about what is happening. Objects can take people out of their story and the way they always describe what is happening.
5. Word Bank
The Word Bank is a pack of 52 positive and active words that can be used virtually ( on-line version available) or in person. Examples of words include charismatic, direct, strong, unique, resilient.
Ways to use the Word Bank
Group check in – Choose a card that reflects how feel now and how want to feel at end of session.
End of session – Randomly select three cards for how want to be around the actions and learning in the session – describe what the three cards mean.
At end of issue holder’s slot and in feedback round - Set members choose a word to represent a quality they’d like to give the issue holder around their actions. Encourage people to write the word down so that they really take it away.
A way to acknowledge and appreciate the skills and qualities of each set member - Invite everyone to pick a word that speaks to what they experience of each of the other set members.
Use in the process review – Set members choose cards to describe how they felt it went, or what they want more of etc.
Value Added: these words can really resonate for people, adding a new dimension to their learning and be remarkably accurate and meaningful. They can become a useful touch stone and anchor for their actions or how they want to feel.
Having a toolkit of useful resources you can dip into adds flavour, nuance, energy, depth and lightness to a session. Do think carefully about why you are using any resources, when and how. Set members have different preferences so it’s important to check in and give clear explanations for why and how you’ll use them.
We hope you enjoy the new perspectives and ideas that using any of these resources might generate.
As part of our 10th Anniversary we have designed a pocket sized Question Bank.
Your experiences of using any of the resources mentioned in this article and how it went,
Or share additional resources and tools you have used, and are happy for us to add it the ALC community collective tool kits.
and you could be one of 10 people finding a pocket sized Question Bank winging its way to you.
Good luck