with

Active Learning

Sharpen Your

Consulting Skills

Ontario Association of Architects

2016 Conference, Toronto

“excellent

communication

skills”

(?)

WANTED:

Where did we learn

communication skills?

Where did we learn

conflict management?

How did we learn to present

visionary ideas?

Are we seen as A-team members

by project delivery leaders?

Is our collaborative approach

seen as offering competitive

value over other firms?

“We collaborate…”

really?

Do we continually improve

our communication and

collaboration skills?

How to improve?

lecture?

webinar?

video?

book?

instruction

lectures,

seminars

reading

research

experience, self

through interaction

observation & reflection

mentors. coaches80%

20% formal

learning

informal

learning

Knowledge to do my job

(experience)

instruction

lectures,

seminars

reading

research

experience, self

through interaction

observation & reflection

mentors. coaches

80% informal

learning

Focus on leveraging your...

(experience)

What prevents learning

from our own experience?

How can we learn faster from

our daily experience?

How would better interactions

affect our profitability?

How would better interactions

affect our reputation?

What if we got better at having

difficult conversations?

How can we create a

360°learning culture?

How can we reduce blame

and defensiveness?

integrated design solutions

design excellence

award winning

thought leader

trusted advisor

committed

full service

integrated services

problem solving

on time, on budget

exceed expectations

deep dive

What sets us apart?

meta trends:

more client aha’s (IPD, value-driven design, etc.)

can’t shrink our way to greatness

“design thinking” (“UX”...untapped potential)

design as public health concern

Change: more than visual

1980 2014

Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, University of Toronto,

Patkau Architects and MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects

Athletic Centre, University of Toronto, Prack and Prack Architects

athletic centres

experts with answers

“listen to users”

possibilities,

co-creation +

“design thinking”

VA

LUE

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Evolution of

consulting work

decision-making in simpler times

more of the same in an era of predictability

“We work with clients to create

a place people want to be.

It’s not an easy formula.”

design for

design with

extraordinary value

is created through

interaction

BLACK

BOX

KNOWLEDGE

BASED

CONSULTING MODELS

jump to answers

wrong/any questions?

hidden process

commoditized

in-depth understanding

tough questions

transparent

differentiated

- project’s full potential

- best value for money ?

design quality

interaction quality

engaged transformational

experience detached

Investment in interaction

VALUE

IMPOSE INFORM GET BUY-IN

CO-CREATE

getting better at the same thing new knowledge

+ innovation

Evolution: decision-making

control influence

“control” influence

strong, natural elusive

design thinking

Purpose-driven creative thinking

that results in things or services

people want, but may not

have requested.

21st century consulting skills

Who needs design

thinking?

Are we creating places people want to be?

Am I looking for

right answers to the

wrong questions?

© iS

tockphoto

.com

/ ©

Ryan L

ane

room for improvement

“The Go-From Guy”

EDUCATE

from Latin: to draw from (not push into)

educate?

different skills,

learning mindset

learning for judgment training for predictability (600 year model)

Training or learning?

facts: easy to teach judgment: hard to teach

Telling vs. digesting

passive learning

active learning

the “prepared mind”

learning mindset

accelerated

learning

takes practice (to change habits)

true collaborative

skills require

more than “tips”

If a learning culture

was easy, everyone

would have one.

A simple, yet rigorous group

coaching method that prepares

people to learn faster from

everyday situations.

Active Learning

S+Q+RxR=L

Situation +

Questions+

Reflection x

Repetition

Active Learning Formula

Where is active learning in use?

+ growing trend: “flipped classroom”

MIT

define your purpose what kinds of skills do we want to focus on and why are we doing this?

invite group members diverse experience levels and job descriptions (typically 5-8 members)

designate a learning coach ask questions, keep people focused on purpose

describe a situation select a current “slice of life” messy predicament

reflect on the situation promote a spirit of inquiry (time for 1-2 situations/1 hr session)

repeat meet on a regular basis (recommend once a week)

1

2

3

4

5

6

launch active learning

take an assets-based

approach

(to even the most dysfunctional culture)

Active Learning Tips

1. A learning coach helps extract insights.

2. Wrestle with messy real-life situations.

3. Conscious learning-in-action becomes

a habit.

4. Barriers to learning include blame and

defensiveness.

Active Learning Tips (cont’d)

5. A spirit of inquiry reduces barriers to

learning.

6. The learning curve is inherently bumpy.

7. Participation should be based on the

attraction principle.

8. Momentum is built over time, not

overnight.

active learning questions

Slice-of-life business situation:

What is happening here? (understand, not blame)

What are some options for going forward?

How am I contributing to the issue?

What do they want to achieve? What do I want?

What is stopping me?

What other options are there?

NAIVE:

What do you mean ________?

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE:

Is there another way you might say

that?

CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS:

Are you sure that ________?

THE "FIVE WHY'S":

Why do you think this is happening?

...Why…?

active learning coaching tips

- be curious, neutral and inclusive

- keep people focused on shared learning objectives

- promote an inquiry-based approach

- seek insight beyond surface answers

- respect silent periods of reflection

- recognize that some anxiety is natural

- understand that wrestling with issues is valuable

- problem prevention: saves time

- identity as learning (v. blame) culture

- achieve firm’s full potential

- make the most of knowledge in firm

- basis for premium brand + fees

- provide best ‘client experience’

benefits to the firm

- ensure ownership transition built on strength

- convert tacit to explicit knowledge (how to...)

- fuel Gen Why? millennial development

- feed entrepreneurial mindset

- develop 21st century leadership

- improve daily work flow

benefits to the firm (cont’d)

- problem prevention: less stress + saves time

- strategic approach: self-confidence

- deal with difficult people

- appreciate other’s views: mindfulness

- ongoing, faster learning: job retention

- improves judgment + reputation

benefits to the individual

use the

attraction

principle

Expectations: NATURE of the creative process

learning from experience

If learning cultures

were easy, they

would be common.

Sharon VanderKaay

vanderpalette.com