Reflections on Groups and Organizations

Reflections on Groups and Organizations is the third and final book in the On the Couch with Manfred Kets de Vries series. Broadening the Kets De Vries canvas, this book examines concepts of organizational health, performance, and change. Material ranges from studies of high performance teams based on time the author spent with the pygmies of central Africa to the study of organizational stars, to the use of coaching interventions to improve personal and organizational functioning. Kets de Vries looks at the interpersonal and group processes that determine how organizations work within specific contexts, including family firms. He studies dysfunctional leader-follower relationships, downsizing, and organizational transformation. Kets de Vries also introduces his concept of the "e;authentizotic"e; organization a pleasant, healthy, well-functioning workplace.

Reflections on Groups and Organizations is the third andfinal book in the On the Couch with Manfred Kets de Vriesseries.Broadening the Kets De Vries canvas, this book examines conceptsof organizational health, performance, and change. Material rangesfrom studies of high performance teams - based on time theauthor spent with the pygmies of central Africa - to thestudy of organizational stars, to the use of coaching interventionsto improve personal and organizational functioning.Kets de Vries looks at the interpersonal and group processesthat determine how organizations work within specific contextsincluding family firms. He studies dysfunctional leader-followerrelationships, downsizing, and organizational transformation. Ketsde Vries also introduces his concept of the "authentizotic"organization - a pleasant, healthy, well-functioningworkplace.

Introduction ixAbout This Book xixAcknowledgements xxiPART 1 INTERPERSONAL AND GROUP PROCESSES 1Introduction 2Chapter 1 Folie à Deux: Acting Out Your Superior'sFantasies 5Chapter 2 Group Dynamics 27Chapter 3 High Performance Teams: Lessons From the Pygmies43PART 2 THE PEOPLE DIMENSION IN ORGANIZATIONS 65Introduction 66Chapter 4 The Question of Organizational Culture 71Chapter 5 Personality, Culture and Organizations 91Chapter 6 The Downside of Downsizing 121Chapter 7 Beyond the Quick Fix: The Psychodynamics ofOrganizational Transformation and Change 151Chapter 8 The Dynamics of Family Controlled Firms 173PART 3 CHANGING PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS 191Introduction 192Chapter 9 Leadership Coaching for Organizational Transformation197Chapter 10 Can Leaders Change? Yes, but Only if They Want To225Chapter 11 The Many Colors of Success: What Do Executives WantOut of Life? 259Chapter 12 Coaching to Stardom: How to Identify and Develop TopPerformers 281Conclusion: Creating Authentizotic Organizations303References 313Index 327