Spring Conference 2019

An order or structure underlies presentations of family functioning, and the knowledge of such a structure permits the description of a set of functions that influence the behavior of the system. Among those functions are those related to leading, the ability to influence the behavior of other participants.

Evolutionary theory is a systems theory. It is also the bedrock of the life sciences, and it is becoming an important foundation for the social sciences, psychology, and the helping professions. Dr. Colarelli give an overview of some systems components of evolutionary theory and evolutionary psychology, with a focus on their relevance to leadership, families, and organizations.

Director: Stanley Proffitt

Moderator: Stanley Proffitt with Daniel Papero and Stephen M. Colarelli responding

Four clergy colleagues will share their experiences of clarity and confusion while working in their respective communities. Representing different traditions, settings and principles of faith, they will engage in conversation centered on how they have managed to cultivate personal clarity in church, community and faith tradition during an era of upheaval and change.

The concepts of Bowen family systems theory have proved useful to business advisors, and the leaders they serve, who understand that emotional process affects individual performance, and can be influenced by individuals within the group. Based on over a decade of study of business relationship systems, this paper will show that extrusions in business (firings) are often adaptive. These ideas will be illustrated by a business story in which the resistance to firing a teammate appeared to be the expression of systemic immaturity.

Being paid to lead is a complicated business, learning to be a leader is the work of a lifetime. Thinking with Bowen theory can contribute to functioning in business but work on differentiation of self is where real leadership emerges. This presentation will present family of origin work, its influence on leadership and how Bowen theory is utilized as a framework for thinking about how organizations function.

Humans are a social species. Indeed, it has been our capacity to cooperate with others, perhaps more than any other human trait, that has been responsible for our success as a species. Although we cooperate with both family and non-family members, our capacity to cooperate widely with non-kin has been critical to the complex division of labor, the widespread growth of civilizations and nation-states, large organizations, and national and international economic systems. What is the evolved basis for our extraordinary capacity for cooperation? What role do leaders – in families and organizations – play in enabling cooperation? What does an evolutionary perspective say about the constraints and opportunities for encouraging and sustaining human cooperation?

This presentation explores leadership in two groups. In the first, the long-time leader of an organization is challenged by a younger colleague but maintains his role by marshalling the support of his staff. The upstart recruits another colleague to form a coalition to overthrow the leader. The role of the relationship system as central to leadership is highlighted. In the second group, the tension between a leader and a challenger is reduced by the efforts of an individual to stay out of a coalition and to relate to both individuals. Understanding the power of triangles in an organization is explored, as well as the effectiveness of neutrality in relating to leadership conflicts.