Discuss three personal characteristics of the group leader that further the group process

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Effective group leaders have specific personal characteristics that further the group process (Cohen, 2011). The group counselor’s personality and behaviors can have a profound impact upon the group experience (Wu & Wang, 2015).

Willingness to confront oneself. Willingness to confront oneself entails asking hard questions: Who am I as a person? As the group leader? Effective leaders are aware of all the facets of their personality, values, and beliefs, and use their interpersonal style to enhance the group process. Once psychotherapists have achieved this knowledge of self, they display courage in exploring their own weaknesses (Corey et al., 2014). This includes having the courage to face mistakes, admit to fears, act upon hunches or hypotheses, feel genuine emotion, be able to examine one’s own life and values, and model positive behaviors (Corey et al., 2014).

Authenticity. Successful group leaders are genuine with group members and do not hide behind the cloak of professionalism, stereotyped images of what they think a counselor is or should be, or the “psychotherapist” title. Rather, they accept the same risks and vulnerabilities as other group members (Capuzzi & Gross, 2013; Wright, 2014). This also means they are able to be emotionally present with group members. Group leaders cannot be truly empathetic unless they are in touch both with their own emotions and the emotions of other group members (Wright, 2014).

Self-care. If one takes to heart the adage that a client is bound by the limits of his or her counselor, the group counselor’s own mental health is imperative (Conye, 2014). Because group needs come first, good leaders know how to take care of their own mental health requirements without imposing upon the group to provide the context for doing so. Leaders of groups, or any psychotherapeutic counselor, should seek personal counseling when needed. And leaders should not be afraid to get professional support, supervision, or evaluation when indicated (Coyne, 2014).

Self-awareness. Along with good mental health, effective leaders are self-aware. Effective counselors have an identity; they know who they are, what they are capable of becoming, what they want out of life, and what is essential (Corey, 2016). This also means knowing one’s power and how to use it for the benefit of the group. The leader must show confidence in himself or herself as an effectual human being and show his or her authentic self to group members (Corey, 2016).

Interpersonal style. Leaders, too, must be aware of their interpersonal style of relating (Cory, 2016). Does the leader need to be the center of attention? Does the leader need to always feel accepted? Does the leader need to be the “authority?” Is the leader uncomfortable in confrontational situations? The group leader must be aware of his or her true self, including personal biases, preferences, and prejudices, so as not to project these onto the group members or let them influence the group process (Capuzzi & Gross, 2013). The counselor must be comfortable with himself or herself and have self-respect, affirmative self-beliefs, and projected positive self-worth (Capuzzi & Gross, 2013).

Faith and enthusiasm. One of the most important individual traits that directly influence the group outcome is the level of personal faith and enthusiasm the group leader brings to the group process. If the group leader does not believe in the group process, group members likely will not either, and the opportunity for therapeutic benefit may be lost (Brown, 2011). Group leaders who do not genuinely believe in the value of psychotherapeutic work and who engage in it only for power or money are behaving unethically (Corey et al., 2014).