Mary Parker Follett and Kurt Lewin—

what do these management and
organisational theory giants
have to do with ESG and the future of work?

Mary Parker Follett and Kurt Lewin—

What do these Management and
Organisational Theory Giants
have to do with ESG and the future of work?

Over a hundred years ago, a brilliant woman graduated at the top of her cohort at Radcliffe College but was denied a PhD. At that time, American women were not eligible for a doctorate. Afterwards, she applied as a faculty member at Harvard but was rejected for the same reason—her gender. Her name was Mary Parker Follett.

Today, Follett is known as one of the great thinkers and management experts of classical management theory. Moreover, Mary was thinking ahead of her time, having formulated principles regarded as the gold standard to this day. She is regarded as the “Mother of Modern Management“. She believed that management was the “art of getting things done through people.”

She anticipated collaborative practice, self-managed teams, adaptive leadership, and agile work. Furthermore, Follett saw organisations as a network of relationships that would amplify the creation of value across the organisation if fully empowered and activated. Instead of doing work according to the strict orders of a manager, Follett advocated for conducting work according to the situational context.

“We should all stand on Follett’s shoulders in order to see further into the possibilities for organisational perfectibility.” 
– Rosabeth Moss Kanter

“Every one of the features of the new organisation that we (and so many others) were so giddy proclaiming as cutting edge and revolutionary had been anticipated by Follett” 
– Nitin Nohria

“The prophet of management. Management and society should welcome her return.” 
– Peter Drucker

In 1933, the year Follett died, a Jewish German named Kurt Lewin emigrated from Germany to the US, anticipating the dark days that followed. While regarded as a brilliant thinker and teacher, his Jewish heritage prevented him from getting senior academic roles until near the end of his life.
.

Surrounded by students and thinkers of all genders and cultural heritages, Lewin’s collaborative methodologies, influenced by quantum physics and unsurpassed to this day, resulted in the foundational development of more behavioural concepts than perhaps any group in history.

Organisational: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), sensitivity training, diversity training, leadership styles, step-based change, organisational climate (a precursor to organisational culture), team dynamics.

Societal: social psychology, action research, group dynamics, plus significant contributions to developmental psychology, cultural anthropology, and the theory of cognitive dissonance.

Despite their foundational brilliance, Follett and Lewin’s non-mainstream gender and cultural heritage hindered them throughout their lives and haunted them even after death.

Their visionary genius is absent from the vast majority of OD, DEI, and leadership programs that their thinking should underpin. Instead, a narrowly elite subset of North American white males continues to dominate. It results in biased interpretations, partial knowledge, an impoverished learning experience, and solutions that cannot deliver the desired outcomes.

Follett’s and Lewin’s thinking underpin contemporary collaborative and collective organisational practices such as DEI, psychological safety, agile teamwork, adaptive leadership, leadership styles, and the ecosystemic mindset. However, they cannot be adequately understood or implemented without the historical context.

Likewise, any attempt to create value in today’s complex interdependent organisational systems is diminished and undermined by a lack of awareness of these foundational ideas.

Follett and Lewin’s lives, thoughts and ideas provide much-needed context to contemporary organisational concepts and practices. Moreover, they allow people to see that today’s ideas are not novel and unproven.

The debate continues as to which is the best way to create value: inclusive collective sensemaking or exclusive individual authoritarianism. Rather than ignore the profound and foundational research on DEI, organisational networks, and collaborative sensemaking, we employ it to add depth, colour, and narratives to recent thinking, ensuring our workshops are complete, rigorous, entertaining, and memorable.

Likewise, it must be noted that for an organisation to thrive in today’s business environment, it must first accept the obsolescence of measuring success solely by financial gains. In this age of rapid transformation and disruption, a trifecta of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles is key. Collectively, the ESG Principles is the foundation upon which a strong and sustainable workplace is built.

Adopting ESG principles is tantamount to future-proofing your organisation as it facilitates top-line growth in the long term, attracts talent, reduces costs, and forges a sense of trust amongst consumers.

As such, the question begs to be asked: What are the critical leadership competencies, meaningful insights or perspectives that leaders today need to create diverse, equitable, and inclusionary value in organisations?

  • Psychological Safety: how collective intelligence creates organisational value, and how
  • to create environments that enable it.
  • Adaptive Leadership: what leadership styles fit what organisational situations, and how to adapt between them.
  • The Agile Mindset: how to improve collective sensemaking and collaborative decision-making in agile work.

Tracing the future of ESG leadership back to the origins of DEI could very well be the key to building an organisation’s social stability — now a major determinant of a company’s public image or the growth potential of a business.

At Kaleidoskope, we help you forge the right leaders to support your organisation’s ESG efforts in line with DEI principles. We are here to support your efforts in shaping the narrative towards an inclusive, sustainable, and socially just future and provide you with the tools to embark on this learning journey.

Want to know more? Reply to this email or give us a call at +65 9100 5995

Related Blogs

Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

In today’s dynamic and intricate business landscape, the ability to think critically has become essential for effective leadership. At Kaleidoskope, we champion the RED Model of critical thinking, an indispensable framework that stands for: Recognize Assumptions...

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

  PHOTO SOURCE: Keith Meyers – The New York Times STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT:A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist who pioneered theories in behavioural economics that heavily influenced the discipline and won him a Nobel prize,...

NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders In the fast-paced world we live in, the value of a guiding hand cannot be overstated. Mentoring is a special relationship where a more experienced person helps someone with less experience to grow and...

Start Your High-Performance Learning Journey

WITH KALEIDOSKOPE NOW!


    These are disruptive times we’re living in. The world is only just beginning to learn to live with the scars of the pandemic, and yet another threat looms. This time, it’s the threat of war, posed by an autocrat over a sovereign state, in utter disregard of international laws.

    These days it feels like the waves of change are rolling in fast and fierce, crashing hard, and rippling endlessly over every aspect of our life. But the human spirit is tenacious. And so, for most of us, life goes on, it’s back to work—as we continue adapting to the circumstances and evolving with the changing environment.

    Within this context emerged the concept of hybrid working. In today’s new normal, “the workplace” doesn’t just mean a physical office in a fixed location. Hybrid teams work onsite or virtually at home or in the office, or in any such combinations that would allow them to perform their duties.

    For the managers in your organisations, work has gotten more complex and challenging. Now they would also be accountable for coordinating teams dispersed across various locations, working in different circumstances and environments.

    In this article we will discuss:

    How to Manage & Engage your Hybrid Teams Effectively

    Are the managers and team leaders in your organisation ready for the challenges of running hybrid teams? We prepared something to help you! Click download to access the brochure.

    These are disruptive times we’re living in. The world is only just beginning to learn to live with the scars of the pandemic, and yet another threat looms. This time, it’s the threat of war, posed by an autocrat over a sovereign state, in utter disregard of international laws.

    These days it feels like the waves of change are rolling in fast and fierce, crashing hard, and rippling endlessly over every aspect of our life. But the human spirit is tenacious. And so, for most of us, life goes on, it’s back to work—as we continue adapting to the circumstances and evolving with the changing environment.

    Within this context emerged the concept of hybrid working. In today’s new normal, “the workplace” doesn’t just mean a physical office in a fixed location. Hybrid teams work onsite or virtually at home or in the office, or in any such combinations that would allow them to perform their duties.

    For the managers in your organisations, work has gotten more complex and challenging. Now they would also be accountable for coordinating teams dispersed across various locations, working in different circumstances and environments.

    In this article we will discuss:

    • practical ways, tips, and actions that will help your managers lead and support their hybrid teams better
    • critical questions that the leaders in your organisation must be ready to face and answer, in the context of hybrid working
    • the most effective ways for a leader or manager to create a successful hybrid workplace
    • recommended “strategy shifts” or suggestions on reframing our perspective on workplace challenges in today’s new normal

    Are the managers and team leaders in your organisation ready for the challenges of running hybrid teams? We prepared something to help you! Click download to access the brochure.

    Related Blogs

    Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

    Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

    In today’s dynamic and intricate business landscape, the ability to think critically has become essential for effective leadership. At Kaleidoskope, we champion the RED Model of critical thinking, an indispensable framework that stands for: Recognize Assumptions...

    STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

    STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

      PHOTO SOURCE: Keith Meyers – The New York Times STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT:A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist who pioneered theories in behavioural economics that heavily influenced the discipline and won him a Nobel prize,...

    NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

    NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

    NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders In the fast-paced world we live in, the value of a guiding hand cannot be overstated. Mentoring is a special relationship where a more experienced person helps someone with less experience to grow and...

    Start Your High-Performance Learning Journey

    WITH KALEIDOSKOPE NOW!


      Kaleidoskope - Tiger Management and Leadership Style

      What Embodies The Typical Tiger Management and Leadership Style

      The year 2022 brings along the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac. These fearless and passionate Tigers are respected and revered by friends and foes alike. Howeve

      The year 2022 brings along the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac. These fearless and passionate Tigers are respected and revered by friends and foes alike. However, although courageous, the Tiger can also be impatient, restless, and autocratic.

      So what embodies the typical Tiger leadership style? What are the characteristics of the Tiger manager? We spoke to one of our favourite trainers, Nicole Smart, and here is what she has to say:

      “One of the primary leadership characteristics typical of a tiger personality is effective crisis management. They have a definitive and unwavering mind, which works very effectively in driving change and mitigating crisis. Moreover, they are often incredibly proactive and are almost always ready to tackle new challenges. 

      A Tiger leader’s natural ability to dominate can often override logical thinking and they can benefit from  and enhance their leadership agility by activating their rationale to override their  instinct to ‘attack.’ 

      It is important to note that dominance does not always equal power, especially at a time when (globally), teams are evolving rapidly, and employees are increasingly seeking acknowledgment, recognition, validation and a ‘voice’.  

      An autocratic leadership style is very effective in crisis management mode, however, it can contribute to decreased employee motivation and engagement and it is often known to develop a polarized team culture, depending on the circumstances and context.

      Developing one’s Emotional Intelligence competencies such as: self and social awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and relationship management results in the co-creation of teamship intelligence and raising the wisdom of the collective. 

      Remember that being adaptable does not mean compromising one’s principles, faith, culture, or ethics. It is about our ability to be agile when dealing with different personality frameworks in the context in which we are communicating and operating within the workplace. 

      Ultimately, People Drive Organizations. As long as we are dealing with another human being, we are dealing with energy in motion—EMOTION.”

      The reality is that the world is in a constant state of flux, and a person’s attributes are rarely cast in stone. Leaders (and followers alike, for that matter) are continually inundated with challenges, some of which are unprecedented challenges born of our unique circumstances that have come to be known as the ‘new normal.’ In these emotionally charged times, skills and strategies for crisis management are necessary.

      So whether we are dealing with someone with a Tiger leadership style or grooming Rabbit or Dragon Managers, remember that at their core is a human being’s evolutionary instinct for preservation; take cover, retreat, or run away from crisis. What defines a leader is their ability to manage a crisis by exercising emotional intelligence (EI)—to inspire, lead, and motivate their team members amid chaos and turmoil.

      In his book Working with Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman defines EI as “the capacity for recognising our feelings, and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and our relationships.” Driving a critical message, Goleman posits that “Emotional competence is the main factor influencing success.” 

      EI equips leaders with unique skills to interpret, work with, or work around highly stressful situations. Emotionally intelligent leaders do not give in to an onslaught of emotions. Instead, they actively look for effective coping strategies for handling challenging, tricky, and even unprecedented situations.

      Most importantly, a true leader develops actions and management mechanisms through a deep and consistent understanding of the organisation’s goals. Doing this keeps her or him anchored—so when a crisis hits, he or she does not panic, deviate, or make decisions from a reactionary perspective.

      “Crisis is temporary.” That is the edict of a true leader—one who looks beyond the challenge and readdress goals with urgency, efficiency, and accurate decisions.

      How does your organisation view a true leader? Are you equipped to optimise the potentials of and, consequently, empower the leaders in your team? Let us show you how!

      Related Blogs

      Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

      Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

      In today’s dynamic and intricate business landscape, the ability to think critically has become essential for effective leadership. At Kaleidoskope, we champion the RED Model of critical thinking, an indispensable framework that stands for: Recognize Assumptions...

      STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

      STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

        PHOTO SOURCE: Keith Meyers – The New York Times STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT:A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist who pioneered theories in behavioural economics that heavily influenced the discipline and won him a Nobel prize,...

      NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

      NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

      NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders In the fast-paced world we live in, the value of a guiding hand cannot be overstated. Mentoring is a special relationship where a more experienced person helps someone with less experience to grow and...

      Start Your High-Performance Learning Journey

      WITH KALEIDOSKOPE NOW!


        Kaleidoskope - Learning Agility In A Vuca World

        Here’s How Change Agility Can Help Your Organisation Thrive in a VUCA WorldHere’s How Change Agility Can Help Your Organisation Thrive in a VUCA World

        Here’s How Change Agility Can Help Your Organisation Thrive in a VUCA World

        Change agility. Global consultants define it as the “ability to identify and seize opportunities in the environment faster than competitors”.

        The Economist defines it as “the ability to transform information into ideas that address market needs”.

        At Kaleidoskope, we agree with all that and more. Most critically, we believe that people are the essence of the organisation. Change agility in an organisation needs to start with the people and its leaders proactively anticipating changes, addressing the challenges as they arise, adapting and thriving in a fast-changing environment.

        It is the ability of its leaders to have a great idea, turn it into a project, implement it and profitably generate returns on their investment.

        Most importantly, the perspective to change is proactive and planned, and not reactive and unplanned.

        As the world and its markets continue to demand greater agility in a landscape defined by the characteristics of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity, agile change leaders are critical to organisations. Our leaders’ ability to anticipate and change gears quickly, steering competently and decisively in different directions defines our success.

        That’s easier said than done. Most change agility programmes are heavy on academic concepts but light on practical application.

        Our Change Agility in a VUCA World leadership programme helps participants anticipate, embrace and deal with change in very practical ways and against the backdrop of global best practices.

        It is designed to help our leaders unpack the mindset behind change agility, explore the risks and impact of staying status quo, reflect on what is required of them in their roles as change leaders and equip them with tools, tips, guidelines to navigate through change swiftly. Participants are encouraged to bring in real change initiatives at their workplace, reflecting and learning from their peers’ experiences and insights.

        As always, our workshops can be customised and contextualised to our clients’ specific requirements and organisational challenges.

        What You’ll Learn From the Change Agility in a VUCA World Training Programme:

        • An appreciation of the characteristics of the VUCA world and the need to develop Change Agility
        • An understanding of what Change Agility is, and the key components required to make it work effectively
        • A recognition of the barriers to change, and the underlying reasons behind them
        • Approaches to utilising key tools to minimize barriers to Change Agility
        • Know how to identify and cultivate Change Agility in their teams
        • Learning how to utilise various tools and frameworks to help build Change Agility capacity

        If you have questions about this or other training programmes we offer, you may call us at +65 65497 535 or tap below to send your enquiry.

        Related Blogs

        Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

        Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

        In today’s dynamic and intricate business landscape, the ability to think critically has become essential for effective leadership. At Kaleidoskope, we champion the RED Model of critical thinking, an indispensable framework that stands for: Recognize Assumptions...

        STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

        STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

          PHOTO SOURCE: Keith Meyers – The New York Times STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT:A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist who pioneered theories in behavioural economics that heavily influenced the discipline and won him a Nobel prize,...

        NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

        NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

        NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders In the fast-paced world we live in, the value of a guiding hand cannot be overstated. Mentoring is a special relationship where a more experienced person helps someone with less experience to grow and...

        Start Your High-Performance Learning Journey

        WITH KALEIDOSKOPE NOW!


          Help Your Leaders Tell a Powerful Story

          Help Your Leaders Tell a Powerful Story

          There’s no way around it.
           
          Setting team goals is a pointless exercise until you have measured your baselines or benchmarks, considered what you want to, or need to achieve and then communicate and get the commitment of your team.
           
          And to accomplish this, you will need DATA.
           
          In our business landscape today of constant flux and rapid transformation, no organisation can survive without data.  But the avalanche of data can be daunting and pretty useless if it isn’t distilled for value, begging the question:  “What is this data good for?”

          Data visualisation comes in here to help your leaders visually, accurately and impactfully arrange the value of metrics and numbers through charts, tables, graphs and most importantly, to provide context, identify and highlight key issues.  So that you get your message across clearly and effectively.

          Our data visualisation workshop focuses on 4 key competencies:

          1. Data representation:  the most effective formats for accurately representing data
          2. Visual clarity:  identify and highlight information in your visuals
          3. Data interpretation:  draw accurate inferences and conclusions from data available
          4. Insight building:  present data that helps your audience arrive at the right insights 

          And then that makes data a little less dry.

          Fuse this approach with Business Storytellingand now you have a synergistic approach to tell a very powerful story.

          Your data is now a story.

          Human beings have been telling stories for a very long time.  We think in stories, we remember in stories and we ALWAYS remember a good story.  And here at Kaleidoskope, we’ve always believed that leaders should be able to tell good stories!

          So by now, your data is a compelling narrative and you are influencing, inspiring and evangelising your team into action, driving everyone in the right direction to desired outcomes.

          Of course this is no small feat and it does sound like a tall order.

          But we can help.  And we can do this by working in close partnership with you to tailor, customise, craft learning and development solutions that best meet your needs.

          Call us today at +65 65497 535 or fill out the form below if you want to know more. And let us tell you our stories

          Related Blogs

          Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

          Importance of Critical Thinking for Leaders: THE R.E.D. MODEL

          In today’s dynamic and intricate business landscape, the ability to think critically has become essential for effective leadership. At Kaleidoskope, we champion the RED Model of critical thinking, an indispensable framework that stands for: Recognize Assumptions...

          STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

          STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT: A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman

            PHOTO SOURCE: Keith Meyers – The New York Times STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF A GIANT:A Tribute to Daniel Kahneman Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist who pioneered theories in behavioural economics that heavily influenced the discipline and won him a Nobel prize,...

          NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

          NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders

          NAVIGATING THE VUCA WORLD: The Essential Framework for Leaders In the fast-paced world we live in, the value of a guiding hand cannot be overstated. Mentoring is a special relationship where a more experienced person helps someone with less experience to grow and...

          Start Your High-Performance Learning Journey

          WITH KALEIDOSKOPE NOW!


            Start Your High-Performance Learning Journey

            with Kaleidoskope NOW!

            Or Fill Out the Form Below

            What We Can Do For You
            About Kaleidoskope
            Resources
            Contact

              +65 9100 5995

              +65 6809 5000

              +65 6809 5001

              ask@kaleidoskope.co


            Google Review Badge - Kaleidoskope - Corporate Training & Learning Solutions (Singapore)