The Empowerment Dynamic – A Positive Role for Everyone
In response to what is often referred to as the Dreaded Drama Triangle we discussed last week (The Drama Triangle – What Role Are You Playing?), David Emerald Womeldorff created The Empowerment Dynamic (TED). This model is designed to help people take a more positive approach to life and to relationship dynamics.
Emerald suggests that people should change their roles in the Drama Triangle to focus on outcomes versus problems to create positive and optimistic dynamics. In the TED model, Victims become Creators, Persecutors become Challengers and Rescuers become Coaches. In general, when we see people as creators, we allow them to make choices and take responsibility, which creates an entirely more positive dynamic than seeing people as victims.
Here is an overview of how the three roles in the triangle transition to positive forces.
The Victim becomes the Creator who:
- Focuses on outcomes versus problems
- Brings the vision
- Focuses on what they want rather than what they don’t want
- Becomes optimistic and takes responsibility for their life
The Persecutor becomes the Challenger who:
- Tells the truth without blame or judgement
- Sees the gaps
- Shakes things up, challenges the status quo
- Leaves their ego out of it
- Abandons right or wrong thinking and takes more of a learning approach
The Rescuer becomes the Coach who:
- Is empowering versus enabling
- Is driven by curiosity and inquiry
- Focuses on the needs of others and on the positive possibilities
- Sees the potential in others
- Has dropped their need for acceptance through development of self-acceptance
The changes required for each of these roles are nothing less than fundamental, and therefore are not quick and easy to implement. A change in one’s view of the world, or even how we view certain individuals requires desire, dedication, and discipline. Emerald follows the science behind behaviour change that says mindset needs to change before behaviours will change. His concise gift is the FISBE acronym that guides us to Focus on outcomes to change your Inner State so you can change your Behaviours.
Sources:
- https://strategicdiscipline.positioningsystems.com/blog-0/workplace-drama-end-it-david-emerald-womeldorff-dallas-growth-summit
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/remyblumenfeld/2018/12/07/how-to-transform-your-relationships-by-getting-creative/?sh=427ceff7565a
- Article: Creator, Challenger, Coach: A Deeper Dive into the TED* RolesBy Donna Zajonc MCC
