The power of succinct questions in Action Learning Sets

Josephine Knowles is facilitating SMK’s current action learning sets for senior leaders and emerging leaders in campaigning organisations.  Midway through the series, she considers one of the key skills for participants.

Change is possible, but by no means easy.  Campaigning can be a challenging and lonely business with limited support available.  In the landscape of professional development, Action Learning Sets* (ALS) have emerged as a powerful tool for collaborative learning and problem-solving. At SMK, they are a safe space for campaigners to tease over thorny issues with their peers.

We know that working out strategies for campaigning is not straightforward. Changemakers and campaigners need to ask questions like ‘where do I start?’ and ‘who can I work with?’. Talking key questions through with peers can be really useful. Central to the usefulness of ALS is the art of questioning. Short open questions, in particular, play a pivotal role in driving insightful conversations, fostering critical thinking, and unlocking personal insights for the person bringing their change-making question. They are the expert in their own lives after all. In this reflection, I explore the impact of succinct questions in the context of Action Learning Sets.

The Essence of Short Open Questions: Short open questions are concise, thought-provoking inquiries that encourage participants to explore, reflect, and articulate their thoughts. Concise questions can help campaigners to unpick an issue, questions like: Who can help you? What is the real issue here? What do you want to change? Unlike closed questions that elicit specific answers (usually yes or no), open-ended questions invite a broader yet deeper examination of ideas that are useful to the Thinker, enabling them to get to the heart of the matter

When we use a long introduction  to the question or reflect or recap, we might demonstrate listening skills, but often the question gets lost. 

What are the key benefits of short open questions in ALS?

1. Encourages Reflection: Short open questions prompt participants to reflect on their experiences and thought processes. Rather than asking a question to gather more information (so that we understand), a short open question enables the Thinker to do the work. This introspective journey allows for a deeper understanding of the challenges at hand and fosters personal growth within the charity sector.
2. Promotes Active Listening: Participants in ALS tend to listen actively when responding to open questions. This creates an environment of mutual respect, where each member feels heard and valued, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the learning experience.
3. Facilitates Divergent Thinking: By their nature, open-ended questions encourage divergent thinking. Recognising that we are all own ‘Experts in our own lives,’ Thinkers get to explore various perspectives, ideas, and potential solutions, leading to more innovative and comprehensive actions.
4. Builds a Culture of Inquiry: Short open questions contribute to the development of a culture of inquiry (rather than advice giving or telling) within the ALS. Participants become accustomed to asking probing questions, leading to a continuous cycle of exploration, learning, and improvement. These skills get honed in the set and the ripple effect impacts the causes we serve. This is vital work as we support marginalised communities in the non-profit sector, as we need to (re) learn that our communities and service users are also ‘Experts in their own lives’.
5. Strengthens Communication Skills: Responding to open questions hones communication skills, as participants learn to express their thoughts clearly and concisely. It also enables the Thinker to think freely, rather than getting diverted by complicated and long questions that might not be useful.
6. Try it out – using less than 5 words! What is the real issue here? What would you do differently? What’s the challenge here?

In the realm of Action Learning Sets, the simplicity of a short open question emerges as a powerful tool for unlocking deeply held wisdom. Through the ability to encourage reflection, promote active listening, and foster collaborative learning, these questions contribute significantly to the growth and development of individuals within the ALS. These spaces can also remind us that we are not alone, which can be helpful to campaigners operating in today’s tough landscape.

• Action Learning Sets involve small groups of individuals coming together to address real-life challenges or issues faced by members of the group.
• We take it in turns to bring a question, the Set serves to support their reflective practice.
• The process involves a reflective and iterative approach, where participants share experiences, ask questions, and collaboratively support ‘Thinkers’ to find their solutions.

SMK will be running new action learning sets for senior leaders and emerging leaders in campaigning organisations from September 2024.  For further details email [email protected]