ACTION LEARNING TEAMS FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION
For companies committed to long term change, profitability and stability in an uncertain economy. This is our signature product based on Paul’s book “Leading Organizations from the Inside Out”
Provarus has developed a highly evolved approach and proprietary methodology for the transformation of executive teams, company culture and the structuring of organizations for accelerated growth and productivity. We are experts on the deployment of Action Learning teams, a unique form of team charged with developing specialized capabilities that do not currently exist in the organization. These capabilities are designed to close particular process gaps, or to generate new capacity for the organization where none had existed before.
Action-Learning Teams tend to be strategic in nature, and of a form not readily developed by other means such as formal education or training. Action-Learning Teams tend by nature to be cross-functional and even cross-organizational, drawing together individuals with highly specialized knowledge in order to collaborate on the development and application of new forms of knowledge.
Action-Learning Teams rely on a particular form of learning characterized by reflection in action, and the capabilities they develop are created by a form of intellectual boot-strapping where new knowledge and capacity are created that did not exist before.
THERE ARE THREE PHASES TO THE METHODOLOGY
Inquiry and Discovery is a deep and incisive discovery process that illuminates the specific gaps in the organization. It is the equivalent of the Indian parable of having eight blind men describe an elephant. From each of their perspectives they are correct: its a wall, a snake, a tree trunk, but putting it together creates the whole picture. In this sense Inquiry reveals the organizational blind spots: the areas of gaps in knowledge, process, meaning, empathy and story. Inquiry is about knowing where to put your organizational crowbar to gain the maximum amount of leverage for your invested time and energy.
Design is the stage that will allow the Action Learning Teams to create a true framework for change. Design is more than just a plan for how to get from here to there; it is a way to create an innovative blueprint for solving the Performance Improvement Points (PIPs) uncovered during Inquiry.
Tom Kelly, CEO of Ideo, has said that Innovation as not just the myth of the genius working alone waiting for brilliant ideas to strike; it is about the innate capacity for everyone to be creative and tapping into that creativity in a collaborative and powerful process.
Integration challenges the fixed identities that organizations (or individuals) established for themselves and deconstructs the collective stories. It breaks up the inherent drama that has been perpetuated. Teams learn to create common interests with aligned expectations.
At the core of this process is a two-day team based workshop.
This step requires the participation of the executive team as well as key employees in other parts of the company.
New organizational structure will be legitimized and shared throughout the core leadership team. The session is interactive, engaging and establishes an environment of understanding, mutual cooperation and teamwork. Participants will begin to embrace accountability rather than resist it.
• Participants will discover the most critical issues or Performance Improvements Points (PIPs) that reside in company. They will sort the PIPs into key categories and know where to put their focus. Solving these problems accelerates the growth of the company.
• An important bond of trust is forged between the Provarus team and the leadership team to validate the willingness and capability of the leadership group to work together. This modeling is crucial to the success of mitigating destructive conflicts and creation of the concept of team.
Experience has shown that the impact of working as a group has a dramatically greater effect onmthe organization than what can be achieved through one-to-one meetings or executive coaching alone.
Please call our office at 805-449-1500 for more information, or email paul@businessmastery.com