Systems-Centered 1 Training for Group Leaders

Abstract

Systems-centered training (SCT) emphasizes experiential groups as training for group leaders, with a focus on exploring social survivor roles that, if not explored, are enacted in our membership and group leadership roles. Men and women often have different challenges in this learning process as their role adaptations are influenced by different social and cultural stereotypes. This chapter introduces systems-centered theory as a framework for conceptualizing and recognizing survivor roles common for women leaders and the liabilities these roles have on our leadership. Using actual transcripts of a training group illustrates how SCT groups explore and undo the social survivor roles that emerge to manage the conflicts in relating to issues of authority, power and control – e.g. one-up, one-down; dominant, submissive; bully, victim – that if not undone, undermine women taking their authority. Undoing these social survivor roles replete with gender stereotyping not only weakens the group’s phase-related restraining forces but also frees the group energy for development in the group, its subgroups, and its members, men and women alike, making it much more likely that women leaders will lead with more authority.