Social Ecology Focus
In my work with Social Ecological development and Change management processes I focused on questions like:
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How can companies simultaneously be successful and sustainable in their operating methods?
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How to encourage the healthy development of individuals, organizations and societies, which simultaneously sustain the planet?
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How to create business organizations where its members can contribute based on their competencies and desire for personal development in accordance with their values?
I have found answers to these questions and many more … in the methodology based on Professor Bernard J. Lievegoed’s ground-breaking work, Social Ecology.
The structure of
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Cover topics from the range of personal development to the range of organizational development
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Stimulate the impulses of sustainability and responsibility in the way that the corporate world utilizes natural resources
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Take inspiration from the organic way in which nature develops
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Create an understanding of how to behave in socially and ecologically responsible ways
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Create healthy organizations where individuals can become initiative takers and create working cultures supported by dialog
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Provide valid methods and processes which give adults tools for conscious lifelong learning and development
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Presents a systemic way of thinking and a conscious focus on co-creation, collaborative processes and leadership for organizational change
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Presents a collection of tested methods and tools developed by researchers and practitioners
Organizational Development processes
in Social Ecology
Organizational Development seminars based on Social Ecology utilize a participative process involving colleagues. However, in the end, it is the manager who claims the final responsibility in goal setting.
In a Social Ecological process the goals of the organization and for the different functions/departments must be clear to every employee. This gives the individual worker maximum possibility to become personally responsible for their performance.
Holistic leadership Characteristic
Holistic leadership is a way of working which strives to create balance in organization an human beings
Social Ecology (hereafter referred to as SE) is based on dialog instead of discussion. The art of questioning, deep listening and the ability to learn through the art of looking back. SE methods can transform an existing culture by creating a participatory culture of cooperation and co-creation in a healthy and productive way.
Learning and development is totally integrated in SE. It is based on holistic and spiritual images. This thinking leads to a number of questions such as:
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How can SE models be used to create healthy communities and healthy sustainable organizations?
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How can individuals take the responsibility for their development through their lifetime?
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How is it possible to develop healthy organizations where human beings thrive and experience opportunities to develop themselves as responsible people?
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How can an understanding of one’s biography assist one in finding one’s path in life or the meaning of one’s life?
The origin of "Social Ecology"
as the name of the methods
As far back as 1954, B.J. Lievegoed wanted to use the term “Social Ecology” as the name of the methodology established as Netherlands Pedagogical Institute (NPI) at Rotterdam University.
My motivation for writing
Social Ecology in Holistic Leadership
My hope is that this book will be an eye-opener for present and future OD consultants/facilitators, who focus on holistic participatory processes, co-creation, transformation, sustainability and the healthy development of organizations