Take Action on Problem, Project, or Challenge
Begin and maintain the cycle of action, reflection, and learning.
The Big Picture
This element of the practice of Systems Thinking Action Learning Teams both belabors the obvious and emphasizes the deep connection between work and learning. It is the most significant influence on incorporating and internalizing learning.
Take Action on Problem, Project, or Challenge
Taking action has four parts:
- Act
- Reflect
- Learn
- Adjust/Adapt
Act
Action is grounded in performance in the workplace. This is not experimenting for the sake of observing the result. Action is directly connected with the problem, project, or challenge that gave rise to the Systems Thinking Action Learning Team in the first place. It is grounded in reality. It is expected to make forward progress toward improving the value stream that contributes to the realization of Strategy by completing goals.
Reflect
Making the time to reflect is the culmination of Anchoring Learning Goals in Workplace Performance and Designing the Process for Insightful Questions and Reflective Listening. This is the time and place for considering the connection between actions taken and results achieved. Reflection makes clear that every action taken has a consequence - short-term or long-term - and that action that is not preceded by anticipation is at risk for unfavorable results.
Learn
Learning happens on multiple levels. Learning about one's self; learning about the organization; learning about structure and process; learning about the business; learning about clients and patients; learning about the complex nature of consistently producing value. Learning that has enduring value in the workplace is learning that is internalized, and which is applied across multiple work situations. That is the hard, tangible learning that is a return on investment for the organization.
Adjust/Adapt
Learning that is concrete and relevant will still fall short of the mark if it is not incorporatedd into making changes to the manner in which value is produced and delivered. Adjusting and adapting is the prelude to returning to the first step of Acting.
All of these steps, when taken as a whole, are an iterative process through which the team cycles for as long as the problem, project, or challenge requires.