Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of disempowerment, where you feel like you have no control over your life? Maybe you feel like everything is happening to you, rather than you making the choices in your own career. If so, you may be caught in what’s known as the Disempowerment Triangle, also known as the Karpman Drama Triangle. That said, there is a way out by locating your thoughts and behaviors and choosing them differently.
What is the Disempowerment and Empowerment Triangle?
The Disempowerment and Empowerment Triangle is a well-known model of social interaction that has been extensively studied by experts in psychology and human behavior. Research by Dr. Stephen B. Karpman, who originally introduced the Disempowerment and Empowerment Triangle, has shown that adopting the victim role can result in feeling helpless and dependent on others for solutions, leading to a sense of disempowerment. Other studies by Dr. Harriet Lerner have highlighted how the persecutor role, characterized by blaming and attacking others, can perpetuate conflict and negativity in the workplace. Similarly, the rescuer role, where individuals try to solve problems for others without allowing them to take ownership, has been linked to enabling and disempowering behaviors.
On the other hand, the Empowerment Triangle, with its roles of creator, coach and challenger, has been studied as a more proactive and empowering approach to social interaction in the workplace. Research has shown that taking ownership of one's choices and actions, as exemplified by the creator role, can lead to increased empowerment and a sense of agency in one's career. The coach role, characterized by supporting and guiding others without taking over, has been found to foster autonomy and self-efficacy in individuals. The challenger role, which involves encouraging others to grow and develop, has been associated with positive change and personal growth.
Based on this research, here are some questions that can help you shift from the Disempowerment Triangle to the Empowerment Triangle in the workplace:
From victim to creator:
What choices do I have in this work situation?
What actions can I take to improve this professional challenge?
What resources can I use to create a better outcome?
How can I take ownership of my role in this work situation?• What steps can I take to create the career future I want?
From persecutor to challenger:
How can I communicate my concerns without blaming or attacking others?
How can I create a safe and supportive environment for others to express their thoughts and feelings?
What questions can I ask to encourage others to take ownership of their own actions and choices?
How can I challenge others to grow and develop, while also supporting and encouraging them?
How can I use my strengths to create positive change in myself and others in the workplace?
From rescuer to coach:
How can I support and encourage others to take ownership of their own actions and choices at work?
How can I provide guidance and feedback without taking over and doing things for them
What questions can I ask to help others identify their own strengths and weaknesses in their professional growth?
How can I help others set goals and create a plan for achieving those goals?
How can I celebrate and acknowledge the progress and successes of others while also encouraging them to continue growing and developing in the workplace?
Operating in the Empowerment Triangle can significantly improve work life in several ways, including by increasing ownership and accountability, enhancing problem-solving skills and bettering communication and collaboration, as well as by leading to enhanced leadership development that inspires, motivates and guides others toward greater personal and professional growth.
In Conclusion
Shifting from disempowerment to empowerment in the workplace requires self-awareness, intentional effort and a willingness to take responsibility for one's choices and actions. By regularly asking ourselves these questions, thinking on paper through journaling and making positive changes in our behavior patterns, we can become more empowered, intentional and proactive in creating the future we want.
Originally posted in Forbes here.