The Power of GroupsThe Power of Groups

COS 4860COS 4860

Bruce K. BarnardBruce K. Barnard

GroupsGroups

►What groups do you belong to?What groups do you belong to?

Group AffiliationGroup Affiliation

►Groups have power to:Groups have power to: Define who we areDefine who we are Meet our needsMeet our needs Influence our behaviorInfluence our behavior Influence our valuesInfluence our values Give us a sense of belonging and Give us a sense of belonging and

connectionconnection

CommunityCommunity

►A community exists when people form A community exists when people form a social group based on common a social group based on common location, interest, identification, location, interest, identification, culture, and/or activities.culture, and/or activities.

CommunityCommunity

► Is the right to self-determination Is the right to self-determination equally available to everyone?equally available to everyone?

CommunityCommunity

►Human beings are social creatures and Human beings are social creatures and the self is a social creation.the self is a social creation.

CommunityCommunity

►geographic communitygeographic community►communities of identificationcommunities of identification►community resourcescommunity resources

FacilitatorsFacilitators

►Facilitators are NOT counselors – but Facilitators are NOT counselors – but counselors often use facilitation skills counselors often use facilitation skills and strategies.and strategies.

►Facilitators do need to understand the Facilitators do need to understand the power of groups to work effectively power of groups to work effectively and ethically.and ethically.

Theoretical FoundationsTheoretical Foundations

► Carl Rogers (Client-Centered Counseling)Carl Rogers (Client-Centered Counseling)

Unconditional Positive RegardUnconditional Positive Regard►Dignity and respectDignity and respect►TrustTrust

EmpathyEmpathy►Communicates a genuine concern for the client’s well Communicates a genuine concern for the client’s well

beingbeing

CongruenceCongruence►Genuineness and authenticity – Congruence between Genuineness and authenticity – Congruence between

statements and actionsstatements and actions►NeutralityNeutrality

Theoretical FoundationsTheoretical Foundations

►Maslow (1946)Maslow (1946)

Theoretical FoundationsTheoretical Foundations

►MaslowMaslow The need for acceptance and respect The need for acceptance and respect

must be met before people will move must be met before people will move toward self-actualizationtoward self-actualization

An environment of acceptance, An environment of acceptance, affirmation, caring, and openness affirmation, caring, and openness unleashes creative energies for problem unleashes creative energies for problem solving. solving.

Theoretical FoundationsTheoretical Foundations

►Viktor Frankl (1985)Viktor Frankl (1985)

Focus on social responsibilityFocus on social responsibility Freedom of will – the fundamental Freedom of will – the fundamental

capacity to choose.capacity to choose. The will to meaning – Human beings strive The will to meaning – Human beings strive

to discover and fulfill meaningto discover and fulfill meaning The meaning of life – Discovery of The meaning of life – Discovery of

meaning is possible even in the most meaning is possible even in the most terrible of circumstances. terrible of circumstances.

Theoretical FoundationsTheoretical Foundations

►Wong (1998)Wong (1998) Personal meaning is:Personal meaning is:

►Individually construedIndividually construed►Socially constructedSocially constructed►Cognitive system that endows events with Cognitive system that endows events with

purpose and meaningpurpose and meaning

Theoretical FoundationsTheoretical Foundations

►Wong (1998)Wong (1998) Facilitators should seekFacilitators should seek

►A deeper understanding of the nature of the A deeper understanding of the nature of the problemproblem

►A clearer understanding of group goals and A clearer understanding of group goals and objectivesobjectives

►A better understanding of selfA better understanding of self

Group ClimateGroup Climate

►Build RapportBuild Rapport Who are you?Who are you? Unconditional positive regardUnconditional positive regard Monitor your own behaviorMonitor your own behavior Remain neutralRemain neutral Be fairBe fair

Group ClimateGroup Climate

►Explain the facilitation processExplain the facilitation process How will decisions be made?How will decisions be made? ProceduresProcedures FormatFormat AgendaAgenda

Group ClimateGroup Climate

►The process is result-drivenThe process is result-driven Keep the focusKeep the focus Focus on one issue at a timeFocus on one issue at a time Build consensus around small things to Build consensus around small things to

build momentum toward the larger issuesbuild momentum toward the larger issues Demonstrate your understanding of ALL Demonstrate your understanding of ALL

points of view that have been points of view that have been communicated. communicated.

Group ClimateGroup Climate

►Establish ground rulesEstablish ground rules Use an agendaUse an agenda Stay on timeStay on time No aggression or passive aggressionNo aggression or passive aggression RespectRespect Everyone is heardEveryone is heard Everyone has the right to change their Everyone has the right to change their

mindmind

Group ClimateGroup Climate

►Clarify objectives and goalsClarify objectives and goals►Build shared meaningsBuild shared meanings

Reflection and clarificationReflection and clarification►Manage group dynamicsManage group dynamics►Teach basic skillsTeach basic skills►Provide feedbackProvide feedback► Identify and celebrate progressIdentify and celebrate progress►DebriefDebrief

Within OrganizationsWithin Organizations

►Strategic change is difficultStrategic change is difficult►Why?Why?

Within OrganizationsWithin Organizations

►Change must occur throughout the Change must occur throughout the organizationorganization

►People value stability. Change is People value stability. Change is embraced only when staying the same embraced only when staying the same is not perceived as an option.is not perceived as an option.

►Leadership must model desired values Leadership must model desired values and behaviorsand behaviors

Within OrganizationsWithin Organizations

►Link the initiative to the organization’s Link the initiative to the organization’s mission and strategymission and strategy

►Demonstrate the power of Demonstrate the power of collaborative actioncollaborative action

►Build the collaborative capability of the Build the collaborative capability of the workforceworkforce

Within OrganizationsWithin Organizations

►Transfer collaborative capacity to the Transfer collaborative capacity to the organizationorganization

►Measure and monitor progressMeasure and monitor progress

The Power of GroupsThe Power of Groups

►Groups have power that can be Groups have power that can be unleashed in organizational as well as unleashed in organizational as well as multi-organizational initiatives. It multi-organizational initiatives. It requires careful planning, a thoughtful requires careful planning, a thoughtful approach, and a skilled facilitator. approach, and a skilled facilitator.

►YOU!YOU!