Subject: [Master Facilitator Journal] See Your Group's Potential - March06, 2007
Master
Facilitator Journal | Issue #0292, March 6, 2007 ....
Dear
friends,
Groups tend to evolve through a fairly predictable series of stages
over time. A common model used in business describes four stages: Forming,
Storming, Norming, and Performing. In this article, "See Your
Group's Potential," we summarize these four stages and discuss
how most groups live somewhere between the first two stages.
Knowing this model as a group leader, you can inform groups that the
sometimes unpleasant symptoms they experience as they attempt to evolve
are normal and expected. And that there are great rewards for the group
who stays with the tension required to break through to higher functioning.
Have a great week!
Steve
Davis
Publisher and Founder of FacilitatorU.com
See
Your Group's Potential Understand
team evolution and hold a larger vision for your group.
Presenting
Skill
Groups tend
to evolve through a fairly predictable series of stages over time. A common
model used in business describes four stages: Forming, Storming, Norming,
and Performing. I also particularly like author Scott Peck's community
building model which includes: Pseudo- Community, Chaos, Emptiness, and
True Community.
Most groups that come together hang out in the Forming or Pseudo- Community
stage, particularly if they lack a good facilitator. In this stage, people
spend lots of energy trying to be "nice" and polite with one
another. In other words, dishonest with each other. In this stage, the
energy of each individual is more focused on how they appear to others
than what the group might accomplish.
The Storming or Chaos stage is reached if a group hangs together long
enough to begin shedding it's facade. People begin to express their truth,
often in very ineffective ways, i.e. through blaming, shouting, pouting,
withdrawing, etc. When groups reach this stage, they often retreat back
into the Pseudo- Community stage for comfort. After all, our culture has
taught us to avoid conflict and fighting, right? Now let's be good boys
and girls and quit fighting, OK? The problem with this approach is that
it keeps us fixated in mediocrity.
If the group should somehow stay the course and find their way through
the Chaos or Storming stage, they may reach the stage of Norming or Emptiness.
In this stage, members begin to identify their individual strengths and
weaknesses and seek roles that best fit their abilities and desires. The
group begins to use problem-solving strategies to solve previously encountered
personal and professional difficulties.
Finally, as a group perseveres, they reach the stage or Performing or
of True Community where fantastic accomplishments can be made by a group
whose individuals are now perfectly aligned on the intent to work together.
Some groups may never transcend all of these stages and may find themselves
stuck in one, or oscillating between two stages. It's also perfectly normal
for groups to move in and out of several of these stages over time.
Each group is different and only their commitment to their own growth
and to each other, coupled with the mastery of the facilitator, will determine
how far they come together. Ultimately, it's useful to know that a higher
vision for any group is possible and the more members that hold and act
on this vision, the more likely it will be attained.
Application
How many groups have you been in where members resist sharing what's standing
between them? There may be something one member does that continues to
push a button of yours, thus distracting you from fully engaging your
energies behind the group. There may be tensions below the surface between
you and other members that are "ignored" and never addressed.
Or there may be processes the group uses that you find to be limiting,
frustrating, or just plain ineffective.
How often have you sensed any of these things and done nothing? Why have
you done nothing? Could it be that you just didn't want to "rock
the proverbial boat?" Or maybe you just didn't know how to say it
in a nice way. Or maybe you have spoken out in the past and people
got pissed at you so you just keep quiet now.
If any of this sounds familiar it's because that's where most groups hang
out, in the space between Pseudo-Community (not rocking the boat) and
Chaos (telling the truth). This is where you as a facilitator can help.
You can help group members share their truth in a supportive fashion,
letting them know that if this truth stirs emotions, that it's OK, and
that by processing these emotions or disagreements, they have the potential
to move past chaos to a far more powerful level of functioning.
Knowing
this model as a group leader, inform your groups that these sometimes
unpleasant symptoms they experience as they attempt to evolve are normal
and expected. And that there are great rewards for the group who stays
with the tension required to break through to higher functioning.
Action
I’m interested
in hearing your perspectives on this topic and how this information might
help you in your efforts to facilitate groups as either a leader or as
a participant Just reply to this email to submit them.
Resource
The
Different Drum, by M. Scott Peck In
his ground-breaking bestseller, The Road Less Traveled, Peck took readers
on a personal journey of psychological and spiritual development. In his
new national bestseller, The Different Drum, he takes the next step--to
the larger experience of living and working in community.
Community isn't what we think it is. Peck does an impeccable job of explaining
true community and why it is so elusive in our society. Though he mentions
over and over that he is an idealist, Peck presents some very intelligent
arguments as to why a community approach just makes sense. He isn't naive
either. He says the road to community can be painful and extremely hard.
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Monday Introduction to the
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6. Be Ignorant.
7. Make Smiles Happen.
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9. Acknowledge the Elephant.
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