The Hedgehog Effect

In The Hedgehog Effect, Manfred Kets de Vries presents the case for leadership group coaching as an experiential training ground for learning to function as a high performance team. His group coaching model, incorporating living case studies, has been developed over more than 20 years of delivering programs to top-level executives and sets the standard in the field of leadership group coaching. Written for coaches, consultants, leadership development directors, and anyone working in or with teams, The Hedgehog Effect begins with an in-depth analysis of what teams and groups are all about. The intricacies of leadership coaching are illustrated with an elaborate example of a team coaching intervention. In Part Two, the author applies a psychodynamic lens to the dynamics of teams and groups, taking a close look at relationship patterns, how groups evolve, and the phenomenon of the group-as-a-whole. Part Three takes a more systemic perspective, addressing the challenges that change processes pose for people in organizations, and how to create best places to work. Kets de Vries supports the whole with the story of an organizational change initiative accomplished through group coaching.

In The Hedgehog Effect, Manfred Kets de Vries presents thecase for leadership group coaching as an experiential trainingground for learning to function as a high performance team. Hisgroup coaching model, incorporating living case studies, has beendeveloped over more than 20 years of delivering programs totop-level executives and sets the standard in the field ofleadership group coaching.Written for coaches, consultants, leadership developmentdirectors, and anyone working in or with teams, The HedgehogEffect begins with an in-depth analysis of what teams andgroups are all about. The intricacies of leadership coaching areillustrated with an elaborate example of a team coachingintervention. In Part Two, the author applies a psychodynamic lensto the dynamics of teams and groups, taking a close look atrelationship patterns, how groups evolve, and the phenomenon of thegroup-as-a-whole. Part Three takes a more systemic perspectiveaddressing the challenges that change processes pose for people inorganizations, and how to create best places to work. Kets de Vriessupports the whole with the story of an organizational changeinitiative accomplished through group coaching.

Preface ixAbout The Author xxiiiPart One: An Introduction To The Life of Groups and Teams 1Chapter 1 How a Group Becomes a Team 3Chapter 2 Swimming in the Relational "Soup" 25Chapter 3 Leadership Coaching and High Performance Teams 55Part Two: A Psychodynamic Perspective On Individuals and Groups 77Chapter 4 Understanding Individuals in Groups 79Chapter 5 The Secret Life of Groups 109Chapter 6 Into the Cloud: The Phenomenon of the Group-as-a-Whole 133Part Three: Creating Authentizotic Organizations 155Chapter 7 Toward Systemic Change in Organizations 157Chapter 8 Being an Effective Change Agent 179Chapter 9 The Zen of Group Coaching 211Chapter 10 A Holistic Design for Organizational Interventions 239Conclusion 255Appendix: Instruments 261Index 279