Session Description

One of the functions of leadership is to motivate people to accept responsibility and to be more autonomous in pursuing shared goals and in meeting their own, and others’, needs in the workplace. Participants gain insight into how to recognize and manage psychological aspects of group functioning to reduce the negative effects of deep emotions, such as fear, on group and individual behavior and workplace performance. They gain self-awareness and practice, articulating and advocating for themselves and others.

In doing so, they learn how to recognize, and avoid, counterproductive behaviors (e.g. blaming, scapegoating) that can disrupt cooperative efforts to achieve shared aims.

This course is intended for employees in leadership and supervisory roles – or for high potentials who already carry responsibility and seek to advance into such roles. Through experiential group learning and reflective exercises, participants acquire a deeper understanding of latent group dynamics that can inhibit, or support, group cohesion.

• Understand how unconscious individual and group processes influence motivation and decision-making in the workplace
• Understand the psychological defense of projection and how it plays into group dynamics such as scapegoating
• Identify aggressive and passive (e.g. fight vs. flight) approaches to handling workplace challenges and faulty group processes
• Learn ways to facilitate inclusiveness to gain the benefits of group synergy
• Enhance the ability to persuade and influence others, and to advocate to meet needs
• Gain insight and skills to manage workplace conflict constructively

Methodology

• Lecture
• Discussion
• Self-assessment
• Experiential simulation

Target Audience

• Supervisory to mid-level leaders
• High-potential individual contributors