Action Learning

Action learning enables high-potential leaders to develop their leadership and problem-solving skills by working on challenging business projects under the guidance of a coach and an executive sponsor.

Kirkland Partners Approach to Action Learning

Action learning is a powerful way to build executive capability because it provides both intellectual and leadership challenges. Each action learning program must be designed to meet the needs of individual clients, there are several core principles that underlie every program.

• Focus on Challenging Business Issues that are of High Interest to Senior Executives:     In selecting action learning topics, Kirkland Partners always works closely with the senior management of the sponsoring company to ensure that action learning teams are focused on topics that matter to the CEO and his/her direct reports.

• Deep Involvement of Senior Leadership Team:  Kirkland Partners structures its action learning programs so that the senior leadership team not only selects topics, but is actively with the teams throughout the course of their work.   Senior leadership sponsors ensure that teams are focused on the right issues at project kick-off and provide guidance to the team as they conduct their work and develop recommendations.

• Use of Rigorous Problem-Solving Methodology:    Kirkland Partners teaches a rigorous problem-solving methodology similar to those used at top-tier consulting firms.   This problem-solving approach is characterized by:
• Organizing the project around key issues to be resolved.
• Linking issues to end products and analyses that the teams will produce.
• Using hypothesis-driven problem-solving to focus the team on potential solutions quickly.

Teams begin their projects by using a disciplined approach to defining the overarching question that they are trying to address and they refer to their list of key issues throughout the project to ensure that they are staying on track.

• Active Coaching of Teams or Team Leaders:    Kirkland Partners works closely with action learning teams throughout the course of their projects and provides guidance via coaches or working directly with team leaders.    In some cases, clients provide coaches for their action learning teams and Kirkland Partners trains the coaches in problem-solving and managing team dynamics.   Otherwise, teams select leaders and Kirkland Partners provides coaching to team leaders throughout the action learning process.

• Engaging Teams in Field Research:   Whenever possible, Kirkland Partners encourages action learning teams to conduct field research to gain a deeper understanding of their topics.    Field research can involve speaking with customers, suppliers, industry analysts or best-practice companies.     Action learning teams can use field research to learn about a target market or test potential recommendations.

Case Examples of Action Learning Programs Led by Kirkland Partners