Page 36 - Branch Leader Guide

Branch Leader Guide

Leader Self-Care

Leader self-care concerns how we take care of ourselves while leading and taking
responsibility for a CMTA branch. Leading these groups is an enormous task that can
bring great joy, but may also cause psychological and emotional strains. An effective
leader needs to be prepared to be exposed to a wide arrange of emotions from group
members. Some of what is brought up in group can touch very close to home,
especially if CMT is a challenge in your own life. Having a place to process your own
responses to what comes up in group is of the utmost importance. This can be a good
friend or another leader who understands what you might be experiencing. Although
most members of the group will be grateful for the work you do, there will always be
members who provoke feelings of inadequacy. There will always be members who
express dissatisfaction, regardless of what happens in the group. Keep in mind at those
times that it is not your responsibility to make everyone feel good. These groups are
formed around self-help models, and the group shares in the responsibility of helping all
its members feel at home. This is another good reason to try to co-facilitate whenever
possible.

Group members will often put you in the role of "expert." That is a responsibility you
don't want to take on because it simply puts too much pressure on you. You are not
responsible for having all the answers, but you can certainly be of help in finding out
whom to ask.

Managing the Dominators

The group leader cannot be shy in dealing with dominators in a group. Those who
speak too much need active help, first from you and ultimately from the group, to gain a
more realistic picture of their effect on others so they can modify their behavior.

Let’s say your group members are bonding well. Everyone is engaging in conversation
and everyone seems to be enjoying the meetings. But then a new person joins the
discussion and starts dominating the conversation. No matter what topic is discussed or
what question is asked, this person shares his/her opinion for five, 10, or 20 minutes and
no one else can get a word in. Even worse, when someone else starts to answer a
question, the dominating person jumps in and talks louder until the first person gives up.
At first, it is not a big deal, but after several meetings, some members are clearly getting
annoyed.

There are usually understandable reasons for the talker's behavior. Are the interruptions
occurring near the start of the meeting? Do they occur in a group with strong tension?
Some people talk too much when they are anxious, but regardless of the cause, they are
hurting the group. The health of the whole group should be the facilitator’s first priority,
and one way to make a group feel safer is to take a strong lead.

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