Unlocking Unconscious Potential in the Workplace
By Dr Hélène Smit
Depth Leadership guides leaders in fulfilling their ethical responsibility to ensure that individuals, communities, and the planet co-exist as creatively, constructively and sustainably as possible.
The book explores a transformative leadership approach. This approach is rooted in depth psychology and systems thinking. It encourages leaders to work beneath, between and beyond the surface.
Introduction to depth leadership
By working beneath, the leader must actively pursue integration of the whole self or psyche. This includes both the conscious (on-the-surface) self and the unconscious (under-the-surface) self. The unconscious also includes the body and the imagination. Through this integration, leaders can unlock potential, resolve conflict and help the psyche thrive.
In addition, leaders must build healthy relationships between people. Doing so helps groups and communities thrive. Leaders also need to consider what lies beyond their own group or organisation. They should use an integrative approach to engage with larger systems, including governance structures and the natural environment. This broader perspective is essential to ensure a thriving planet.
The ideas in this book are grounded in academically sound theory. However, they are discussed from the perspective of a layperson. The book is also extensively illustrated by award-winning artist Katherine Glenday. These ideas are relevant to anyone who leads a group or team, whether in a formal organisation or an informal social setting.
- Goes beyond all the formulaic and obvious leadership advice.
- Helps leaders work with their own psyches, including the unconscious layers in individuals, groups and organisations.
About the author
Dr Hélène Smit brings thirty-five years of experience in applying depth psychology theory to facilitation, conflict resolution, leadership development and coaching. Her work focuses on building psychological and systemic literacy and integrity in individuals and groups across diverse settings.
She is particularly skilled in helping teams and groups navigate seemingly intractable and chronic conflicts and dilemmas. This work involves engaging with unconscious processes. The goal is both to unleash greater creativity and to minimise the negative organisational impact of under-the-surface conflict.
Hélène has worked with NGOs, and with local, provincial, and national governments. Her experience also includes partnerships with many large and small businesses. She has served as Visiting Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business. Currently, she teaches at Henley Business School, where she supports MBA groups.
- PUBLISHER | De Gruyter |
- ISBN | 978-3111384627 |
- Recommended Retail Price | €29.95 |
- Classification | Leadership |
