ABSTRACT

Group members need each other if they are to learn anything from the personal development (PD) group experience. Everyone agrees on a formula that provides instructions on how to row, so that the boat can get going on its journey. Verbalising both what is noticed and some personal impact invites the other group member to respond whilst owning that there are perhaps interesting things to be learnt from all sides. In almost every PD group there will be an attempt to solve the problems of communication and relationship by structure. The great thing about structure is that it imposes control and order on a potentially chaotic situation. In some groups, structure does play a useful part in the initial stages. Intuitive links can be reinforced by conscious efforts to “row together” where group members work to identify points of similarity or difference.