Bill Buxton wrote:
>There's an ethical side to touchy-feely exercises that I haven't seen
>addressed yet. In the workplace, how intrusive can a group facilitator
>be?
As Bill pointed out, a facilitator can be very intrusive. There are
really (at least) two perspectives on the issue: the perspective of the
facilitator, who supposedly knows what process will help the group achieve
its aims, and that of the group member, who probably doesn't know much
about process and has a set of personal and professional aims that may or
may not be consistent with the group's.
Bill said:
>we should all be open to examinations of process and interpersonal
>dynamics.
This could mean that the group members should be open to what the
facilitator is doing, even though it might be a mystery or otherwise
uncomfortable. And for the facilitator, it could mean that caution is
important when working with a group that may not be very sophisticated.
>But I would deny the legitimacy of facilitators poking
>about in other people's psyches in a work setting. I don't see anything
>in the work contract that grants a license to amateurs to practice therapy
>on employees.
I agree with this. And it reminds me of times when I've gone too far with
a group. The facilitator must always bear in mind that the process has to
fit the group's goals and its collective temperament. That makes it
critically important for the facilitator to remove his or her ego from the
situation, to the extent possible. To the extent that it is not possible,
the facilitator should open up his or her biases and "hidden" agendas to
the group. I like to pretend I'm wearing hats labeled "Facilitator" or
"Curmudgeon" or "Jester" or "Therapist" (this one often gets a laugh,
especially when I put on a German accent and pretend I'm smoking a cigar),
and I tell the group when I'm changing hats. Some facilitators use real
hats for this purpose. Either way, it's a good way to check one's
tendency to mindlessness and get credit for being imperfect at the same
time.
>Consider what one posting listed as the motivations of those who resist
>touchy-feely exercises:
>>-- to avoid revealing one's personal vision;
>>-- to disparage others, especially women, in order to preserve an "old
>>boy" mentality;
>>-- to prevent the erosion of hidden agendas;
>>-- to avoid change;
>>-- to discount process work done in meetings;
>>-- to say "I'm from Mars* and don't you forget it" ...
>>
>>... the underlying motivation is fear of one's own humanity.
>I intend no flames here, but arguments like these can easily make
>touchy-feely interventions pretty coercive affairs. If you resist, there
>must be something wrong with you.
I posted those items, and I'd like to be clear that I wasn't advocating
for any of them. They simply reflect my interpretation of attitudes and
motives that I've encountered working with groups.
I agree with Bill that these attitudes can indeed "make touchy-feely
interventions pretty coercive affairs" - which is why I tend to stick
close to the business at hand. When the group seems more curious and open
is when I start to take risks, but not in the early forming stages.
>If you resist, you're exercising your right to privacy,
>a right you don't forfeit by accepting a paycheck.
Possibly. Resistance can also be a natural outcome of a mismatch between
the personality of the group and the methods chosen by the facilitator.
There's a balance between (a) one's right to privacy and (b) disparaging
others or pursuing a hidden agenda. It's impossible to know what's going
on, and the wise facilitator will take risks with a group only insofar as
his or her skills are adequate to bail the group out if something goes
wrong.
Privacy, especially in male-dominated groups, is one of the most important
values. This could be one reason that anything labeled "touchy-feely" is
automatically suspect. (My personal opinion is that we men are so afraid
of our inner femine qualities that we'll do almost anything to deny the
fullness of our own humanity.)
Androgynously,
Dave
David E. Birren
Project Manager and Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
(608) 267-2442
"Teach your tongue to say 'I do not know' and you will progress." --
Maimonides
--"Birren, David E" <BirreD@mail01.dnr.state.wi.us>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>