Don't just do something … stand there: using action learning to help organisations work with anxiety

Abstract

This article gives an account of their work with psychodynamic principles within an action learning framework. Linklater and Kellner are primarily Organisation Development consultants with a rich heritage in psychodynamic theory and methods. Having worked with action learning for decades (and seen hugely positive results using traditional models) they decided to do something a little different with their action learning model.

They wondered how it might be if, during the action learning process, they looked at what was going on in the here and now of the group – including what was going on between the group members. By paying explicit attention to the unconscious within the group and themselves they brought the opportunity to work with richer, deeper information to the group. When set members chose to act upon this information, the stage was set for lasting, sustainable learning and change.

Keywords:

• anxiety
• psychodynamics
• consultation group