The Power of Groups COS 4860 Bruce K. Barnard

Groups ► What groups do you belong to?

Group Affiliation ► Groups have power to:  Define who we are  Meet our needs  Influence our behavior  Influence our values  Give us a sense of belonging and connection

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

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

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

Community ► geographic community ► communities of identification ► community resources

Facilitators ► Facilitators are NOT counselors – but counselors often use facilitation skills and strategies. ► Facilitators do need to understand the power of groups to work effectively and ethically.

Theoretical Foundations ► Carl Rogers (Client-Centered Counseling)  Unconditional Positive Regard ► Dignity and respect ► Trust  Empathy ► Communicates a genuine concern for the client’s well being  Congruence ► Genuineness and authenticity – Congruence between statements and actions ► Neutrality

Theoretical Foundations ► Maslow (1946)

Theoretical Foundations ► Maslow  The need for acceptance and respect must be met before people will move toward self- actualization  An environment of acceptance, affirmation, caring, and openness unleashes creative energies for problem solving.

Theoretical Foundations ► Viktor Frankl (1985) Focus on social responsibility  Freedom of will – the fundamental capacity to choose.  The will to meaning – Human beings strive to discover and fulfill meaning  The meaning of life – Discovery of meaning is possible even in the most terrible of circumstances.

Theoretical Foundations ► Wong (1998)  Personal meaning is: ► Individually construed ► Socially constructed ► Cognitive system that endows events with purpose and meaning

Theoretical Foundations ► Wong (1998)  Facilitators should seek ► A deeper understanding of the nature of the problem ► A clearer understanding of group goals and objectives ► A better understanding of self

Group Climate ► Build Rapport  Who are you?  Unconditional positive regard  Monitor your own behavior  Remain neutral  Be fair

Group Climate ► Explain the facilitation process  How will decisions be made?  Procedures  Format  Agenda

Group Climate ► The process is result-driven  Keep the focus  Focus on one issue at a time  Build consensus around small things to build momentum toward the larger issues  Demonstrate your understanding of ALL points of view that have been communicated.

Group Climate ► Establish ground rules  Use an agenda  Stay on time  No aggression or passive aggression  Respect  Everyone is heard  Everyone has the right to change their mind

Group Climate ► Clarify objectives and goals ► Build shared meanings  Reflection and clarification ► Manage group dynamics ► Teach basic skills ► Provide feedback ► Identify and celebrate progress ► Debrief

Within Organizations ► Strategic change is difficult ► Why?

Within Organizations ► Change must occur throughout the organization ► People value stability. Change is embraced only when staying the same is not perceived as an option. ► Leadership must model desired values and behaviors

Within Organizations ► Link the initiative to the organization’s mission and strategy ► Demonstrate the power of collaborative action ► Build the collaborative capability of the workforce

Within Organizations ► Transfer collaborative capacity to the organization ► Measure and monitor progress

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