‘A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.’ (Mahatma Gandhi)
Action Learning, like coaching, is grounded implicitly in Western cultural assumptions such as the value and desirability of independence and a nurturing of individual autonomy and agency. John Whitmore’s GROW model provides a structure and focus for posing questions that some find useful. Here’s an adaptation to try with sets with a more collective cultural orientation.
The sample questions below, associated with GROW, are framed as individual-oriented questions first, then reframed as collective-oriented. They provide Action Learning participants with different ways of approaching questions, depending on which focus a presenter may find most congruent culturally and, therefore, useful to help address the challenge they are facing.
Goal (Individual): What do you want to achieve? How does your goal align with your values? If you achieve your goal, how will it help fulfil your wider aspirations? (Collective): What outcome would most benefit your team, family of community? How does the goal align with the values and expectations of your group? If this goal is achieved, how will it strengthen relationships?
Realities (Individual): How is the current situation affecting you? What barriers or obstacles are you facing? What personal strengths and resources can you draw on? (Collective): How is the current situation affecting your group? Who or what is affecting your group’s ability to resolve this? What group strengths and relational networks can you draw on to address this together?
Options (Individual): What different strategies could you try? Which options excite or motivate you the most? What else could you do it your first idea doesn’t work? (Collective): How can you involve others in shaping a solution? How might the people who matter most to you view these options? What possible ways forward would be most acceptable or beneficial to the group?
Will (Individual): What are your practical next steps? On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that you will do it? How will you keep yourself accountable as you move forward? (Collective): Who will you talk this through with to reach a decision? How will you gain agreement from those who are important to you? Who will you involve to ensure accountability and follow-through?
