Articles

Psychodynamics of Boards

Developing Night Vision: Applying a Psychodynamic Lens to Understanding Supervisory Board Dynamics

in this chapter, we present a framework of useful psychodynamic concepts to help identify unconscious but potentially derailing dynamics within supervisory boards or between supervisory board members and executive board members

Corporate Governance Yearbook 2022-2023, Dec 2022

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“Why am I frantically pursuing wealth?”

Is Greed Destroying Your Soul?

Greed is less about accumulating wealth than filling an inner void.

INSEAD Knowledge, Sep 2019

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No one can make you feel inferior without your consent

What can be done about bullies at work?

Stamping out bullying is an uphill battle for everyone involved.

INSEAD Knowledge, May 2018

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“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”

Are you addicted to power?

The design of firms fosters power intoxication in their leaders.

INSEAD Knowledge, Apr 2018

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"Paradigm shift and Manfred Kets de Vries"

Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries: Playing the Morosoph

Manfred Kets de Vries has bought a unique form of humanistic and scientific thinking to the forces of organizational change. This article looks what makes Manfred Kets de Vries “tick?” What “red threads” run through his life? How has his way of thinking contributed to the world? To explore these questions we will use one of his own methodologies and put him, metaphorically, on the psychoanalyst’s couch.

Enduring Thoughts of the Thinkers of Organizational Change, Aug 2017

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"Leadership in a digital age"

Evolving Leadership in the Digital Age

To become more effective and refective leaders, executives need to learn to improve their behavioural reactions to diffucult situations and develop greater emotional intelligence.

The European Business Review, Jul 2016

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"Business schools and a holistic approach to education"

Finding balance in business education

To create responsible leaders of the future, business schools need to adopt a more holistic approach to education. To what degree are business educators helping to transform individuals and improve and influence business practice?

Education Post, Jan 2016

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'Advantages of small group coaching"

How small group coaching can accelerate leadership development

This article describes the benefits of small group coaching in leadership development.

EFMD Global Focus: Volume 09 Issue 01, Nov 2015

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"HR leaders as catalysts for change"

Lifting Leadership's Game

 Craig Donaldson from Inside HR speaks with Manfred Kets de Vries about the evolution of HR, its role in change and why leaders need to lift their game.

Inside HR, Jul 2015

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"Applying a psycho- dynamic lens to org studies"

Sociology of Leadership in Organizations

A chapter in International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition on using a psychpdynamic lens to the study of organisational phenomenon.

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, Apr 2015

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"Group coaching second to none to have executives sing on the same page"

Vision without action is a hallucination: Group coaching and strategy implementation

This article illustrates how group coaching can be a methodology second to none, to have executives sing on the same page—and accelerate execution. It is an intervention methodology increasingly utilised by premier strategic consulting firms.

Organizational Dynamics, Mar 2015

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"Slacking off is a great way to nurture our imagination"

The Art of Doing Nothing

In our current 24/7 society, introspection and reflection have become lost arts. Instead, we are at risk of becoming victims of information and work overload. In this article, the authors argue that slacking off—or a conscious effort to do nothing—is a great way to induce states of mind that nurture our imagination.

European Financial Reivew, Dec 2014

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"Conundrums coaches face in their practice"

The Group Coaching Conundrum

This article sheds light on the challenges facing coaches when undertaking the journey to becoming a group coach.

International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, Nov 2014

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"SOB effect on org life"

The Psycho-path to Disaster: Coping with SOB Executives

This article describes the SOB—Seductive Operational Bully—or psychopath “lite”, in organisational settings, who can wreak havoc on organisational life.

Organizational Dynamics, Oct 2014

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"Unhealthy dependencies prevent leaders from reaching their full potential"

Mentor or Martyr? Beware the Rescuer Trap

In this article for Human Capital Review, Kets de Vries explores the Rescuer Syndrome—where the need to help becomes a self-serving addiction and—which creates an unhealthy state of dependency and prevents leaders from reaching their full potential.

Human Capital Review, Jun 2014

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"Effectiveness of psycho- dynamic group coaching"

Psychodynamic Group Executive Coaching: A Literature Review

This article reports on the effectiveness of psychodynamic group coaching intervention technique practiced at a global business school.

International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, Feb 2014

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"When mentoring becomes an unhealthy dependency"

Need for Reflection When a Helping Hand in the Workplace Goes Too Far

This article addresses how the desire to assist others can slide into a 'rescuer syndrome', in which the mentoring relationship becomes fraught with unhealthy dependency.

The National, Abu Dhabi, Nov 2013

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"C-suite suicide trend"

C-suite Suicides: When Exec Life Becomes a Nightmare

Swisscom's CEO and Zurich's CFO recently took their own lives. This Fortune Management article quotes Manfred Kets de Vries on this recent trend.

Fortune, Sep 2013

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"Leaders and the art of forgiveness"

Forgiveness Makes a Good Business Tool

The knee-jerk reaction of too many people in leadership positions when they feel wronged is righteous indignation and the urge for revenge. But one factor that sets truly transformational leaders apart from the run-of-the-mill is the ability to forgive - to let feelings of anger, resentment and blame fall away and become something constructive. This article looks at how forgiveness can make for a good business tool.

The National, Abu Dhabi, Jul 2013

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"Narcissistic leaders and organisational sustainability"

Ethics in Business—Where is the education for narcissistic leaders?

This article explores the narcissistic inclinations of leaders and how this could affect the soundness and sustainability of organisations.

InvestVine, Jul 2013

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"Psycho- dynamic issues in leadership studies"

Psychodynamic Issues in Organizational Leadership

This chapter reviews psychodynamic issues in leadership theory, leadership in organisations, and leadership development.

Wiley, Apr 2013

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"The transformative power of executive coaching"

Know Thyself!

An interview with Manfred Kets de Vries about the transformative power of executive coaching.

OrganisationsEntwicklung, Jan 2013

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"What are the strengths of German managers?"

Was sind die Stärken Deutscher Manager (What are the strengths of German managers?)

Manfred Kets de Vries gives an interview to Germany's Harvard Business Manager, in their special on German Management. 

Harvard Business Manager, Jul 2012

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"Challenges of managing today's employees"

Leadership Today: An Inward Journey Is leadership born or bred?

Professor of Leadership Development Manfred Kets de Vries and Professor of Organisational Behaviour Michael Jarrett comment on the challenges faced when managing employees today.

INSEAD Knowledge, Apr 2012

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"Self authoring to take control of our destiny"

The Power of Group Coaching in Developing the Self-Authoring Leader

This article addresses how in order to take control of our destiny and to create alternative destinations some of us may need an external intervention, one of which is the technique of self authoring.

Integral Leadership Review, Jan 2012

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