Great leadership is balancing autonomy and belonging. It’s not me or us. It’s always both.
As someone who loves the scientific view, I didn’t roll the dice when deciding: my coaching approach should have four perspectives! There had to be a solid reason, right? And there is.
The underlying theory and framework of my approach is integral. To understand what that means, let’s look at two core concepts. The first one is: the holon.
A holon is something that is both a whole and a part at the same time.
Think of a cell in the human body – a complete system on its own and part of a larger organism. Or a person in a team – an individual and part of the team. The same applies to a team within an organization. And so it continues – holons all the way up and down.
Each holon is self-contained and independent – yet always embedded in a larger context. It naturally balances two forces: preserving its own integrity while staying linked to what’s around it.
In coaching, we can look at your topic, your questions, and your development as holons. We explore the dynamic between your personal agency and the systems you belong to.
Where do you feel the tension between autonomy and belonging?
Some questions for reflection:
- How do I contribute to the systems I’m part of – and how do they shape me?
- How do my personal goals meet the goals of my organization?
- How can I stay true to myself while staying close to others?
- Which parts of me still don’t work well together?
Still sounds a bit abstract? The second concept makes it more concrete. Next up: the four-quadrant model.
Keep reading → (coming soon!)
New to this series? Start here →
Christine Paulus
ENGLISH | DEUTSCH
