Action Learning as a Practice: A Case Study of Compassion in Action
Waddington, K., Nowlan, J. and Kaplan, Y. 2021. Action Learning as a Practice: A Case Study of Compassion in Action. In Practice. 15 (3), pp. 243-267.
Waddington, K., Nowlan, J. and Kaplan, Y. 2021. Action Learning as a Practice: A Case Study of Compassion in Action. In Practice. 15 (3), pp. 243-267.
| Title | Action Learning as a Practice: A Case Study of Compassion in Action |
|---|---|
| Type | Journal article |
| Authors | Waddington, K., Nowlan, J. and Kaplan, Y. |
| Abstract | Action learning involves a small group working on real problems from practice, taking action, and learning as individuals, as a team/group, and as an organization. It has been part of the work and organizational psychology practitioner toolkit since its inception by Reg Revans in the 1940s (Pedler, 2021). This case study demonstrates Revans’ (2011) practical approach to integrating action learning into every-day situations and enhancing the practical and professional skills of the workforce, which in this instance focuses upon compassion in action. The need for compassion – broadly defined as noticing suffering, feeling empathetic concern, and taking action – is emerging as a crucial issue for 21st-century workplaces and organizations (Seppälä et al., 2017). This paper describes an action learning initiative in a UK university that illustrates the role of work and organizational psychologists as ‘third space’ practitioners (Whitchurch, 2013) in the professional field of organizational development. It demonstrates how collaborative academic-practitioner relationships and learning enabled the practice of compassion in action through creation of shared stories of self-compassion (Nowlan, 2021). It also illustrates practical application and use of systems-psychodynamics thinking, and the unconscious processes that play out within and between groups and individuals at work (Obholzer & Roberts, 2019). The paper highlights the importance of reflective supervision in action learning, which in this case study used the innovative concept of social dreaming (Archer, 2021). It concludes with critical reflection on working in the ‘third space/s’ of academic-practitioner collaboration and the creation of shared practice stories. |
| Keywords | action learning |
| compassion | |
| academic-practitioner collaboration | |
| unconscious processes | |
| social dreaming | |
| Journal | In Practice |
| Journal citation | 15 (3), pp. 243-267 |
| ISSN | 1736-6399 |
| Year | 2021 |
| Publisher | EAWOP (European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology) |
| Publisher's version | File Access Level Open (open metadata and files) |
| Supplemental file | File Access Level Open (open metadata and files) |
Concluding Reflections: Key Questions and Challenges for the Future
Waddington, K. and Bonaparte, B. 2024. Concluding Reflections: Key Questions and Challenges for the Future. in: Waddington, K. and Bonaparte, B. (ed.) Developing Pedagogies of Compassion in Higher Education: A Practice First Approach Switzerland Springer Nature.
Theorising Organisational Compassion – Could Gossip Help?
Waddington, K. 2024. Theorising Organisational Compassion – Could Gossip Help? in: Waddington, K. and Bonaparte, B. (ed.) Developing Pedagogies of Compassion in Higher Education: A Practice First Approach Switzerland Springer Nature.
Seeing Compassion Through Students' Eyes
Waddington, K. and Bonaparte, B. 2024. Seeing Compassion Through Students' Eyes. in: Waddington, K. and Bonaparte, B. (ed.) Developing Pedagogies of Compassion in Higher Education: A Practice First Approach Switzerland Springer Nature.
Action learning and coaching as an integrated approach for supporting women’s career progression: A reflective analysis
Waddington, K. and Jones, S. 2023. Action learning and coaching as an integrated approach for supporting women’s career progression: A reflective analysis . Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice. 11 (2), pp. 90-108.
Leaving egos outside: A ‘reverse mentoring’ study of BAME psychology students and senior university leaders
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Developing compassionate pedagogical practice with students as co-researchers
Waddington, K. and Bonaparte, B. 2022. Developing compassionate pedagogical practice with students as co-researchers. UK Society for Research into Higher Educaton & Open University Press.
New thinking about gossip – as an idea whose time has come
Waddington, K. 2022. New thinking about gossip – as an idea whose time has come . theconversation.com.
Gossip, Organization and Work: A Research Overview
Waddington, K. 2022. Gossip, Organization and Work: A Research Overview. Abingdon and New York Routledge.
Befriending Ourselves: Self Compassion
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Compassion and tolerance: their relationship in a spirit for turbulent times
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Concluding Remarks
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What Constitutes a Compassionate University?
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Action Learning as a Vehicle for Compassion
Waddington, K. and Kaplan, Y. 2021. Action Learning as a Vehicle for Compassion. in: Abingdon and New York Routledge. pp. 57-74
The influence of music on black, Asian and minority ethnic women working in the field of domestic violence and abuse: Critical reflection on music as method
Waddington, K. and Erbmann, M. 2021. The influence of music on black, Asian and minority ethnic women working in the field of domestic violence and abuse: Critical reflection on music as method. International Practice Development Journal. 11 (1) 10. https://doi.org/10.19043/ipdj.111.010
Why compassion, why now?
Waddington, K. 2021. Why compassion, why now? in: Waddington, K. (ed.) Towards the Compassionate University: From Golden Thread to Global Impact Abingdon and New York Routledge. pp. 5-22
The Science of Gossip: Rethinking the Evidence-base for Healthcare Practice
Waddington, K. 2020. The Science of Gossip: Rethinking the Evidence-base for Healthcare Practice. Healthcare Transformers.
Building better relationships: Developing critically reflective practice when working preventatively with domestic violence and abuse
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Understanding and Creating Compassionate Institutional Cultures and Practices
Waddington, K. 2019. Understanding and Creating Compassionate Institutional Cultures and Practices. in: Gibbs, P., Jameson, J. and Elwick, A. (ed.) Values of the University in a Time of Uncertainty Cham, Switzerland Springer. pp. 241-260
Compassionate Followership: The Emotional Side of Leadership
Waddington, K. 2019. Compassionate Followership: The Emotional Side of Leadership. The Corporate Report: Facilitating Business in South Africa. 9 (2), pp. 29-33.
Trends and perspectives in business psychology. What are the outcomes of the fifth International scientific-practical conference “Business psychology: theory and practice”?
Ivanova, N., Benton, S., Waddington, K. and Makhmutova, E. 2019. Trends and perspectives in business psychology. What are the outcomes of the fifth International scientific-practical conference “Business psychology: theory and practice”? Fifth International Scientific and Practical Conference - Business Psychology: Theory and Practice. National Research University Higher School of Economics Moscow 30 Nov - 01 Dec 2018
Developing Compassionate Academic Leadership: The Practice of Kindness
Waddington, K. 2018. Developing Compassionate Academic Leadership: The Practice of Kindness. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice. 6 (3), pp. 87-89. https://doi.org/10.14297/jpaap.v6i3.375
Primed, prepped and primped: Reflections on enhancing student wellbeing in tertiary education
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Reciprocal peer coaching: A constructivist methodology for enhancing formative assessment strategy in tertiary education
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Learning, training and development
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Career management and development
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Motivation and work satisfaction
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Ideas and influences in practice development: Practicing with political awareness
Waddington, K. 2017. Ideas and influences in practice development: Practicing with political awareness. International Practice Development Journal. 7 (2), p. Article 12 12. https://doi.org/10.19043/ipdj.72.012
Creating conditions for compassion
Waddington, K. 2017. Creating conditions for compassion. in: Gibbs, P. (ed.) The Pedagogy of Compassion at the Heart of Higher Education Cham Springer. pp. 49-70
Developing Mindfulness in the Workplace
Nowlan, J. 2016. Developing Mindfulness in the Workplace. BPS 2016 Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference. Nottingham 06 - 08 Jan 2016
Rethinking gossip and scandal in healthcare organizations
Waddington, K. 2016. Rethinking gossip and scandal in healthcare organizations. Journal of Health Organization and Management. 30 (6), pp. 810-817. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-03-2016-0053
The compassion gap in UK universities
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Facilitating independent learning through reciprocal peer coaching
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Comrades in diversity: Weathering the storm of NHS reform through action learning
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Developing a ‘Mindful Institution’
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Academic-practitioner knowledge sharing inside higher education institutions
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Using qualitative diary research to understand emotion at work
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Human Resource Management (HRM) strategies and academic engagement in UK universities: reflections on an academic-practitioner study
Lister, J. and Waddington, K. 2013. Human Resource Management (HRM) strategies and academic engagement in UK universities: reflections on an academic-practitioner study. European Work and Organizational Psychology in Practice. (5), pp. 12-25.
The effectiveness of peer coaching in higher education: reflections of business studies students on their introduction to coaching psychology
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Influencing others
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Gossip and Organizations
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Adding value through coaching in Westminster Business School
Matthewman, L.J., Nowlan, J. and Patel, Z. 2012. Adding value through coaching in Westminster Business School. 11th Annual Westminster Learning and Teaching Symposium. University of Westminster 5th July 2012
Breaking the Silence: The role of gossip in organizational culture
Waddington, K., van Iterson, A. and Michelson, G. 2011. Breaking the Silence: The role of gossip in organizational culture. in: Ashkanasy, N., Peterson, M. and Wilderom, C. (ed.) The Handbook of Organizational Culture and Climate. 2nd Edition Thousand Oaks, CA Sage. pp. 375-392
The effectiveness of a disaster training programme for healthcare workers in Greece
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Watch this space: Working between disciplines and paradigms in the scholarship of organizational gossip
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Learning about leadership through critical reflection and practitioner-academic co-inquiry
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Leadership and organisational decision-making: The nurse's role in policy and practice
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Collaborating and working with the multidisciplinary team and agencies
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Gossip in organisations: Contexts, consequences and controversies
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Organizational gossip, sense-making and the spook fish: A reflexive account
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HRM strategies and academic engagement
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Motivation and work satisfaction
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Career management and development
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Learning, training and development
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Continuities in caring? Emotion work in a NHS Direct call centre
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Gossip and emotion in nursing and healthcare organizations
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