Action Learning and Leadership Development

Abstract

The Problem Today organizations worldwide are faced with the growing challenge of increasing the capabilities of their leaders with less time and fewer financial resources. However, most leadership development programs are ineffective and expensive and provide little focus on the social, interpersonal, and strategic aspects of leadership. This research seeks to answer the following questions: How are leadership skills developed through action learning? How are these skills embodied and consequently transferred to the workplace? The Solution Action learning with a trained coach is a cost-effective approach that enables leaders to develop capabilities while working to solve urgent organizational or social problems. In essence, leaders are learning while working. This article reports on a model of action learning that was used with hundreds of organizations throughout the world for over a decade. It presents a number of action learning procedures to develop key leadership skills as identified by the individual and emphasizes the use of a trained coach. The Stakeholders This article provides researchers and scholarly practitioners in the field of human resource development (HRD), organizational development trainers and coaches, and organizational teams, leaders, and managers with findings that support the growing importance of action learning in the field of leadership development. Other interested parties may include people who want to solve complex social problems in our world today in efforts to really make a difference.