If you’re familiar with Action Learning (AL), you’ll know it enables space to pause and reflect deeply, problem-solve, and create meaningful change. But what happens when we introduce a common thread or single focus for everyone to work on together? That’s where themed Action Learning comes in.
It differs from the classic Action Learning approach, where participants bring individual work-based challenges to explore. Themed AL Sets, sometimes referred to as ‘single-issue’ Sets, are intentionally designed around a specific topic or issue.
We’ve seen themed Sets work effectively in many contexts. Themes can be organisation specific, focusing on internal objectives, priorities, or initiatives, or they can span organisations, addressing sector wide challenges.
Why Use Themed Action Learning?
The benefits are many. Themed AL programmes:
- Provide a structured focus so organisations can make progress on specific topics
- Bring together people grappling with the same issue/challenge/project to work collectively
- Build trust and relationships quickly among those responsible for delivery
- Allow participants to bring the unique challenges they face around the topic
- Work towards defined outcomes
- Enable learning across systems
- Encourage resource sharing and innovation, with participants sparking ideas off each other
- Support a culture of collaboration and tap into collective intelligence
- Help maintain momentum through regular sessions
- Develop participants’ problem-solving, questioning, and listening skills
Key Considerations When Setting Up Themed AL
Purpose: What are you aiming to achieve? Clearly define the purpose and/or outcomes.
Membership: Who will be invited to be set members and why? They need to be people who can take action on the theme.
Structure: How many Sets, how many sessions per Set over what duration? Who facilitates them?
Support mechanisms: Themed AL needs co-ordination for session dates, room bookings if in person, and a point of contact for emerging information, learning and feedback.
Champion: With organisational wide initiatives consider having a senior leader as sponsor to champion it.
Examples of Themed Action Learning Programmes We’ve Delivered
Theme – Improving Evaluation and Monitoring (multi-agency within a network)
As part of a national programme, we supported public health and charity professionals responsible for evaluating and monitoring community-based initiatives.
Theme – Green Social Prescribing (multi-agency, health sector)
We supported a national project developing the UK’s approach to Green Social Prescribing. Six Sets were formed, each focusing on a different aspect of the work.
Theme – Cultivating High Performance (university context)
A university used AL to help leaders focus on building a high-performance culture within their departments.
Theme – Improving outcomes for young offenders (Justice sector)
This multi-agency approach brought together representatives from Probation, Police, Youth Offending Teams, and the Courts to to better understand the perspectives from the different parts of the system to make more informed decisions on the needs of young offenders.
Theme – Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Education (international universities)
Academics from four Sub-Saharan African countries and the UK worked together to strengthen innovation and improve student employability. Sets focused on:
- Innovation and social change
- Mainstreaming entrepreneurship and innovation in Higher Education
Action Learning can be used in a variety of settings, and the benefits are significant. With careful design, themed AL can help organisations develop their people, build valuable networks, foster cross-departmental collaboration, and tap into collective intelligence all while implementing new ways of working and delivering on strategic objectives.
Fiona Scrase, co-founder, Action Learning Centre.