The MTL Professional Development Programme is a collection of 202 PowerPoint presentations that will provide you with step-by-step summaries of a key management or personal development skill. This presentation is on "Empowering the Group" and will show you how to develop a group through empowerment techniques. 

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Empowering the Group
EMPOWERING THE
GROUP
Unleashing the potential in the group
MTL: The Professional Development Programme

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Empowering the Group
Attribution: All images are from sources where a Creative Commons license exists for commercial use. All icons are on subscription
from thenounproject. All clipart is from free sources. The MTL Professional Development Programme is copyright of Manage Train
Learn.
Empowering
the Group
Introduction: In traditional experiences of groupwork, such as the home unit, the school
classroom, and the workplace team, we have become used to hierarchical models of
power where we defer to those in charge. This often leads to feelings of alienation,
frustration, and powerlessness. The process of facilitation has a simple aim: to put
power back where it belongs - with those in the group. In this topic, we’ll look at 7 ways
to empower your groups.

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Empowering the Group
1. OPENNESS
https://pixabay.com/en/waiting-architecture-modern-531291/
Be patient.Things will happen in their own time.
We all have experiences of having to do what we
are told. In groupwork, this could mean having no
choice in taking part, having to follow someone
else's agenda, and having to express ourselves to
please others. In this route there is no growth.
Instead of compulsion, facilitators practise
openness. You can do this by giving people their
own time and space, allowing them the freedom
to work things out for themselves, and the
patience to let what happens happen.

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Empowering the Group
2. VALUING
In hierarchical models of groupwork, value often
seems attached to where you are in the
organisational chain of command. In facilitative
models, value is about respecting everyone for
who they are, regardless of where they appear on
the organisational chart. There are many ways to
show value such as by being courteous and
respectful, quiet and attentive, and appreciating
every contribution that people make.
All resistance by others ends when you accept them
https://www.flickr.com/photos/citrixsynergy/8113755881/

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Empowering the Group
Cultivate open language and open body language
3. OPEN
LANGUAGE
https://www.flickr.com/photos/citrixsynergy/8119930192/
Everything you say and do as a facilitator can
underline your own openness and your invitation
to others to be open too. Cultivate a relaxed, still,
and unhurried presence with neutral gestures
that give nothing away. Face people when they
speak to you, uncross your arms and legs so you
appear non-defensive and let people in to the
real you. Use language that is clear, simple,
assertive, and relevant. Speak only when you
have something worth saying.

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Empowering the Group
4. NON-
RESCUING
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A facilitator can help a group without rescuing them
In traditional forms of groupwork, leaders are
often placed in the role of expert with all the
answers. While this makes them look good, it
doesn't take the group anywhere and allows
people an easy life. In facilitative groupwork,
leaders don't offer people easy ways out of
difficulties.
Jill: "I couldn't possibly do that. I've never role-
played before."
You: "OK, so who would you like to help you?"

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Empowering the Group
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rob-young/870538056/
Boomerang questions are ones you send back to the asker
5.
BOOMERANG
QUESTIONS
The "boomerang", or "elastic", question is a way
of showing people that you do not have all the
answers, and, even if you do, it doesn't matter
and the group's answers are far more relevant
and worth discovering. All you do is send back the
question to the questioner, as in this response:
Susan: "What exactly is facilitation, Malcolm?"
You: "Well, what do you think it is, Susan?"

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Empowering the Group
6. OFFERING
OPTIONS
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Suggest choices but let the group decide
One of the most useful alternatives to rescuing
people is to offer them options. This is how. First,
tune in to the problem that the group are
grappling with. When they ask for your help, ask
group-focused questions such as, "What can you
do here?" and "What's missing?" and "What will
happen if you do that?". Then, listen to their
answers and, instead of giving them your
solution, sum up the options and let them
choose.

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Empowering the Group
What is the most important word in our language?
7. LETTING IT
HAPPEN
https://pixabay.com/en/theravada-buddhism-meditate-1810156/
Timothy Gallwey tells the story of a Zen master
who once asked an audience of Westerners what
they thought was the most important word in the
English language. They suggested words like
"love", "truth", "success", "belief", "honesty", to
all of which he shook his head. Eventually he put
them out of their misery. "It's the word, "let". Let
it be. Let it happen."

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Empowering the Group
This has been a Slide Topic from Manage Train Learn
AFinal
Word
The difference between traditional groupwork and facilitative groupwork is about a shift in power
from leader to group. You change the location of power in what you say, what you do, and who you
are. And in the process, you become infinitely more powerful.