Thesis_Leadership for Sustainable Change_compressed.pdf
Creators: name: Neumann
name: Wils, Tom
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: 160201 Causes and Prevention of Crime
subject: FOS: Law
subject: FOS: Law
subject: 160603 Comparative Government and Politics
subject: FOS: Political science
subject: FOS: Political science
subject: 160702 Counselling, Welfare and Community Services
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 160605 Environmental Politics
subject: 160802 Environmental Sociology
subject: 160607 International Relations
subject: 160805 Social Change
subject: 160807 Sociological Methodology and Research Methods
subject: 169999 Studies in Human Society not elsewhere classified
subject: 160810 Urban Sociology and Community Studies

description: <b>Leadership for Sustainable Change on a Macrosocial Scale<br></b><br>- Levers for Reversing Feedback Loops of Existential Threat and Unsustainable Behavior towards Cooperation and Win-win-win-outcomes -<br><br><br>Abstract:<br>Over the past decades, a research gap in the field of sustainable change has been constituted that calls for an interdisciplinary approach in the face of the increasing urgency of the global ecological crisis. The thesis aims to shed light on the mechanisms and levers underlying directed social change by building a theoretical foundation and providing practical insights into five European regions with sustainable development in form of a case study. Two experimental modules for interview analysis were developed and introduced: the experimental tools Emotional Coding to assess the amount of emotional transmissions, and the Mind-mapping tool to depict the thought processes of the interviewees.<br>The dynamics leading to unsustainability on the global stage are examined, linking ecological with social and psychological aspects and hereby generating a holistic perspective on the status quo. The need for trauma-informed leadership as a vital factor in the ability to purposefully shape society becomes apparent. The role of the hormone oxytocin in human bonding and leadership is found to be an important factor in social synchronization processes. Risks and chances connected to increased oxytocin levels are described, as well as the required capacity in leaders to create a safe holding space, in which the needs for attachment and detachment (or “safety” and “freedom”) are respected. Enabling society-encompassing discourse while refraining from social rejection was found as a prerequisite for change. Further, characteristics of successful leadership are investigated, namely a mindset with unconditional positive regard to others, the ability to welcome fearful aspects and to communicate in proactive deescalating ways in face of conflict.<br>Results from the practical study underscored the theoretical findings and provide practical examples of ways to implement sustainable change on a regional level. The leaders of the eco-region Kaindorf were found to take a lead role in the examined regions as they connect a sustainable agenda, positive psychology, and socioeconomic benefits for locals and partners with a participatory inclusive approach. The emotional transmissions in communication were very positive and the survey’s results showed high motivation in the people. The overall results underline the connection of leaders’ mindset, communicative abilities, and success in motivating for change.<br>The authors of the study recommend implementing trauma awareness and learning of communication strategies into the process of selecting and training leaders on political and administrative levels. They further propose establishing sustainable change by incentives that respect the here-described levers for positive human change. <br>