ABSTRACT
The construct of empowerment offers consultants the opportunity to make a difference by revisiting the fundamental relationship among the participatory research process, the process of experiential learning, and intra- and interpersonal and group awareness and skills. Empowerment thus serves as a framework for understanding how science, practice, and philosophy are integrated. For both consultants and clients, the ethical and moral responsibility is to bring about lasting change which recognizes and promotes human well-being and worth through the enhancement or improvement of organizations and their parts. Though the “consultant as expert” is still a common model in the work world, today’s consultants have the opportunity to truly change organizational and even societal assumptions regarding efficiency and effectiveness. Instead of form or objectives driving systems, it is possible to initiate trust as the cornerstone for collective human interaction.
