Paulo Freire's "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" is a seminal work in education theory that critiques traditional, banking-style education and advocates for a more liberating approach. Freire argues that education should be a transformative process that empowers students to critically analyze their world and challenge oppressive structures. He emphasizes dialogue and participatory learning as essential tools for fostering critical consciousness and social change. The book's enduring influence lies in its challenge to traditional power dynamics in education and its call for a more just and equitable learning environment. Freire's work has inspired educators and activists around the world to rethink their approaches to teaching and learning.
In this book, Frederic Laloux explores the evolution of organizational models through history, identifying five stages of development: Red, Amber, Orange, Green, and Teal. The Teal stage, which is the focus of the book, is characterized by self-management, wholeness, and evolutionary purpose. Laloux provides detailed case studies of pioneer organizations that have adopted these principles, demonstrating how these new models can lead to more soulful, purposeful, and productive organizations. The book also discusses the broader implications of these changes, including potential shifts in consumerism, monetary systems, and global communities[1][2][4].
Warren Nilsson is an associate professor of social innovation at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and the faculty associate of the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation. He’s also the co-founder of Organisation Unbounded, an international community of inquiry and experimentation, exploring how social purpose organizations can more closely align their internal practices and cultures with their external social change goals. Warren has worked with social purpose organizations in North America, Africa, and South Asia connecting his academic research with practitioner-driven social initiatives.
In this week’s podcast, we explore what any workplace can learn from social change organizations about the two unique steps they take to create positive change inside and outside of their workplaces.
Connect with Warren Nilsson:
You’ll Learn:
- [03:08] - Warren explains how learning to successfully create social change can help to transform any organization.
- [05:22] - Warren shares what his research has been finding to help any workplace create more positive change in the world.
- [07:42] - Warren outlines why workplaces need to work more in the social field if they want to have a positive impact on the world.
- [12:53] - Warren shares how psychological safety and high-quality connections offer practical insights and tools to help us create social fields that help to create social change.
- [15:33] - Warren offers some tips on what the best social purpose organizations do to align their external purpose with the internal ways they bring out the best in their staff.
- [22:54] - Warren explains how workplaces can create cultures of listening and connecting people to what they are feeling.
- [29:17] - Warren explains why scaling questions rather than scaling solutions often offers a more effective pathway for creating social change.
- [35:01] - Warren enters the lightning round.
Your Resources:
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Until next time, take care! Thank you, Warren!
Making Positive Psychology Work 
