SYSTEMIC GROUP APPROACH

Each person is part of a wider system in which all elements interact. Group dynamics in families or business can only be understood when taking into consideration different perspectives, experiences and views. A system functions well when all individuals take their roles and responsibilities seriously according to their hierarchical position. However, conflicts might occur when this is not the case.

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Here are two examples:

 

Families

A mother leans on her child for emotional support during her separation from the child’s father and shares her pain and suffering with the child in too much detail. 
Reaching out to their children to fulfill their emotional needs, parents can cause permanent damage to their offspring, a process called “emotional parentification” in which the roles and responsibilities are reversed. During this process, the child’s safety net is destroyed. Children have a natural tendency to show empathy towards their parents. It is not the child’s responsibility to protect him-/herself but rather the parent’s responsibility to seek adult support. While it is beneficial for adults to express their emotions, using children for one’s own emotional needs and leaning on them is overstepping their boundaries and can have a damaging effect on the child.

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Business

From a systemic point of view, managers are similar to parents in a family. Ideally, they need to be present, provide a direction, motivate, take decisions, set limits, create security and protect their employees from outside threats while, at the same time, giving them flexibility and challenges that are neither overstimulating nor too easy.

Otherwise, chaos in the team will be inevitable. Consequences could be that: 

• Employees lose respect, become unmotivated and unproductive;

• Bullying can occur;

• The team atmosphere suffers as some team members take over the manager’s role without the official authority, creating conflicts within the team;

• The team no longer acts as a unit.

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The systemic group approach is a practical and creative method with the aim of simplifying complex situations, reducing conflict by understanding other’s experiences and views, clarifying and strengthening relationships and finding a way to move forward together. In my experience, this approach is more productive if several group members are willing to join the session.

 

I support you in understanding and clarifying:

• Relationship patterns;

• Personal stagnation in job or private life;

• Family conflicts;

• Work conflicts;

• Social problems (such as bullying, loneliness).