The ethos of action learning within a virtual Reflective Practice Forum: an account of practice drawing connections between action learning, community of practice and supervision frameworks

ABSTRACT

As Action Learning has evolved, it has been adapted to promote learning in various contexts. In this account of practice, we share our perspectives as facilitators of the application of action learning principles within Reflective Practice Forums for Mentoring and Coaching Programme Managers. The ethos of action learning was adopted with the forums to enable the programme managers to engage in regular reflections of their current practices and ongoing professional development. In our assessment of the application of action learning principles and processes within the Reflective Practice Forums, we consider the connections between action learning, communities of practice and supervision frameworks to examine and present the ‘ethos’ of Action Learning within the forums.

KEYWORDS:

• Reflective forum
• action learning
• community of practice
• supervision of practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chandana Sanyal

Chandana Sanyal is a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Development at Middlesex University Business School and European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) Global Work Group Lead for Individual Accreditation for coaches and mentors. She is an EMCC Global Senior Practitioner Accredited Coach, Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Higher Education Academy. Chandana’s current research interests are action learning, leadership development, mindfulness and self-care and impact evaluation in coaching and mentoring.

Julie Haddock-Millar

Julie Haddock-Millar is an Associate Professor of HRM at Middlesex University Business School, Visiting Professor at the International University of Monaco and EMCC Global Work Group Lead for the International Standards in Mentoring and Coaching Programmes. Julie is an EMCC Global Senior Practitioner Accredited Coach, Master Practitioner Mentoring and Coaching and Mentoring Programme Manager. Julie's research interests are mentoring and coaching for well-being and resilience, action learning and reflective practice, and mentoring and coaching impact evaluation.

David Clutterbuck

David Clutterbuck is one of the early pioneers of developmental coaching and mentoring and co-founder of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council. Author of more than 70 books, including the first evidence-based titles on coaching culture and team coaching, he is visiting professor at four business schools. He leads a global network of specialist mentoring and coaching training consultants, Coaching and Mentoring International.

Melissa Richardson

Melissa Richardson is the founder and Managing Director of Art of Mentoring, a mentoring software and services firm based in Australia. She is a global assessor for the European Mentoring and Coaching Council's ISMCP Award (International Standards for Mentoring and Coaching Programs) and has post-graduate qualifications in organisational coaching, counselling and marketing strategy. Melissa directs the Art of Mentoring research agenda and regularly speaks on mentoring best practice and technology-enabled mentoring.