Many organisations claim that they 'empower' people and use a client-led or person-centred approach in the service or process they offer. But in this podcast Alan is asking viewers who provide such services 'Do you really empower people?' and 'What does client-led or 'person-centred' mean - for you?'
To suggest that I, or we 'empower people' is intrinsically self-contradictory as it assumes people don't have power already and they 'need' to be 'given' it by someone else, rather than be helped to recognise or create additional choices for themselves. This suggests a 'parent-child' view of clients as if they are 'without power' and the service provider 'gives it to them' as if 'bestowed'. This is in itself self-contradictory as it portrays personal power as something that some have and others don't and so the latter have to be 'given' it.
In mediation and conflict coaching we speak of 'supporting empowerment' in recognition that empowerment is not ours to give but we can provide a process that supports people in reflecting on their situations and how they can create answers and choices for themselves rather than be 'given' them.
Alan also looks at 'system-led' processes and 'practitioner-led' processes that can also sometimes claim to be client-led and to 'empower people' that are now appearing in mental health services, that suggest that there can be fixed answers to people's issues and that following 'assessment' they can be prescribed for people. Thus they are ultimately practitioner led and disempowering as they imply a dependence on the service provider for the 'answer' to their mental health challenges, something which for people already feeling stuck and powerless can lead to the opposite of what the service is intended for.In this way it is not providing effective mental health support.
Alan Sharland has been a Mediator and Conflict Coach for over 27 years working in a wide range of dispute situations including neighbour disputes, workplace disputes, complaints (NHS, Special Educational Needs, University Student), group disputes and others. He was Director of a community mediation service in West London for 11 years and now runs CAOS Conflict Management. https://www.caos-conflict-management.co.uk
Connect with Alan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alansharland
If you would like Conflict Coaching via Zoom, please contact Alan via this webpage: https://www.caos-conflict-management.co.uk/conflict-coaching.html or directly via caos@caos-conflict-management.co.uk
Check out and like the Communication and Conflict Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/communicationandconflict/
Visit the Communication and Conflict website: https://www.communicationandconflict.com
Books and ebooks:
How to Resolve Bullying in the Workplace: Stepping Out of the Circle of Blame to Create an Effective Outcome for All https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Resolve-Bullying-Workplace-Effective/dp/1511941316
A Guide To Effective Communication for Conflict Resolution - How Mindful Communication Supports Growth Through Conflict. Purchase the book at this link on amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1790335221
The Simple Effective Skills of Conflict Resolution e-book https://www.communicationandconflict.com/conflict_resolution_skills.html
CREDITS Outro Music: All Colours Pt 6 by Bob Holroyd, from album Hollowman: https://music.apple.com/us/album/hollowman/677559200