The Four Player Model

David Kantor developed a series of models based on his observations of how families, and organisations, indeed any group of people, behaves. The Four Player Model suggests that everything we say can be categorised into one of four ‘action modes’. When we ‘Move’ we initiate something. For example, we propose a way forward, or invite someone else to suggest what to do next. When we ‘Follow’ we support someone else’s move, not just nodding silently, but validating the idea and moving it forward to completion. When we ‘Oppose’ we challenge and correct the ‘Move’. When we ‘Bystand’ we provide a perspective on, for example, the content of the conversation, or the quality of the interaction. Either with reference to things that are going on outside the room, or with reference to the way the team is operating. The task of the facilitator is to help the team notice its own patterns of interaction using this language and equip them to be able to change the nature of their discourse, particularly when they get stuck in certain patterns.