The critical moment of transition: Staying with and acting on newly gained self- and social awareness. Issue 3 (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Svalgaard, Lotte
• Is Part Of: Management learning. Volume 49:Issue 3(2018:Jul.)
• Page Start: 278
• Page End: 294
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Mindful action -- mindful avoidance -- potential space -- self-awareness -- systems psychodynamics -- transition; Industrial management -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Executives -- Training of -- Periodicals; Organizational learning -- Periodicals; Knowledge management -- Periodicals; 302.35
• DOI: 10.1177/1350507617748548
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-7307

Abstract

By providing a holding environment to acknowledge sensitivities and address emotions, leadership programs prove to be powerful spaces for increasing self- and social awareness. However, the challenge is for one to maintain the newly gained self- and social awareness after leaving the holding environment and entering a context characterized by activity and performance. This is a frequently debated challenge for both academics and providers of management learning. Yet, critical moments in this transition remain under-exposed and under-researched. The contribution of this article is a research study—within the context of an international MBA program—of MBA students applying their knowledge from a Leadership Stream in an international consultancy project. This article contributes to the theory and practice of management learning by providing a lens through which subjective experience of critical moments of transition can be understood. In addition it develops the notion of 'mindful avoidance', and points to a major and neglected space in the design of management education.