How Key Group Attributes Help The Consulting Process

Recently Peter Brougham-Cook invited me to speak at his TAB meeting in Savannah. I have recently published a book I Think Therefore I Am Wrong, which examines thinking and cognitive bias.

TAB is designed to help business owners join others in order to provide them with tools, insights and different perspectives. The members that were at the meeting were very engaged in both the pre-talk discussion and for my presentation.

As I watched the group interact, I was reminded of my time as a consultant psychologist to the international weight loss support group Take Off Pounds Sensibly – TOPS.

While working with TOPS, I saw the power of a group. At the time TOPS had about 10000 chapters holding weekly meetings, and getting engaged with the group gave me several insights into why a group works and why it doesn’t.

Surprisingly perhaps, given there are many self-help (and guided help) groups out there, there is very little written on what makes a group effective. There’s no question in my mind, that a well-run group is a very effective, maybe the most effective, vehicle for change.

What constitutes a well-run group? These are the five core attributes that I have observed working with groups.

Authenticity: The group needs to be conducted in a way that allows each member to feel safe to discuss his or her ideas, without recrimination, fear, or ridicule. Members must trust each other, that they will act authentically.

Anchoring: One of the big values of a group is that its members can help each other keep perspective when things aren’t going so well, or if they are going very well. Members can remind each other of their goals and purpose which can be easily lost if left on one’s own.

Accountability: Being accountable to a group is a key part of following through with plans and goals. It’s easy to get deflected, and accountability mitigates that tendency.

Modeling: Seeing how other members are conducting themselves can be inspiring and motivating. Listening to how others have handled similar issues is not only helpful logically but can provide confidence in how to deal with current issues.

Information: Members can provide valuable information to each other, by directing others to useful tools and articles that can help explain the dynamics of a particular situation and ways of dealing with it.

As I observed the TAB group in action, I saw all of these features in play. People were supporting each other, inspiring each other, providing useful insights and information, all in the context of authentic communication. It was uplifting to see because I know that many groups don’t have the necessary features that inspire success and can degenerate into a waste of time at best or even become a negative influence.

For more information please visit TAB Lowcountry