ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of a coach in supporting reflection, learning and taking action in a team or a group. It explores the role of a coach or adviser in learning groups, such as action learning sets where the role of the coach is to ask questions to encourage the team to consider and reflect on their current situation. The chapter aims to develop a sharper understanding of what distinguishes action learning from team coaching, as well as some of the overlaps between them. It must be noted that as the action learning facilitator is commonly referred to as the ‘coach’, this term has been used interchangeably with group coaching. Action learning is a method for individual and organisation development based on small groups of individuals meeting over time to tackle real problems. The emphasis on ‘intentional action’ will ensure both individual and group outcomes and enhance learning and development of all participants.
