Frederic Laloux, the author of the bestselling book 'Reinventing Organizations,' discusses how leaders can help employees show up as their authentic selves. He emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of wholeness where vulnerability and openness thrive. Storytelling plays a key role in fostering connection and authenticity. Laloux shares practical strategies for leaders, urging them to model wholeness themselves. He highlights how personal histories can enrich organizational culture and promote teamwork. By embracing these principles, leaders can catalyze meaningful change.
37:47
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Burnout and Exploration
Frederic Laloux experienced profound sadness and lack of energy while working as a consultant.
This led him to question traditional management practices and explore alternative approaches.
insights INSIGHT
The Professional Mask
Many organizations prioritize a "professional mask," hindering employees from bringing their whole selves to work.
This limits energy, creativity, and passion, contributing to a lifeless workplace.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Share Internal Conversations
Identify the private conversations you have in your head but don't say out loud.
Share these internal dialogues to foster realness and address underlying issues.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness
Frederic Laloux
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].
Reinventing Organizations
A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness
Frederic Laloux
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].
Frederic Laloux: Reinventing Organizations
Frederic is the author of Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness*. The book is a global word-of-mouth bestseller with over 850,000 copies sold in 20 languages. Frederic’s work has inspired the founders of Extinction Rebellion, the Sunrise Movement, and Project Drawdown, as well as countless corporate leaders and faith movements. In a past life, he was an associate principal with McKinsey & Company. He's also the creator of the Insights for the Journey video series.
In this conversation, Frederic and I explore a place where almost every leader can have a meaningful impact: helping people show up as their whole selves. We discuss how critical it is for leaders to lead the way in doing this — and how storytelling can be an important entry point. We look at some of the practical actions leaders can take to enter into a place of wholeness, including elevating beyond content, using everyday language, and integrating with the work at hand.
Key Points
As a leader, wholeness begins with you. Exploring wholeness yourself sets the stage for everyone else to be able to engage more fully.
Rather than talking lots about wholeness, it’s often helpful just to begin modeling it. When you do, everyday language us useful to help others engage.
Your personal history, the history of the organization, and the organization’s purpose are often helpful stories to share that open up a space for wholeness.
You can turn any conversation into a moment of wholeness. One invitation for leaders is to stop talking about content and elevate the dialogue to “what’s happening” overall.
Resist any temptation to disconnect wholeness from the work at hand. Bringing these together helps people to show up at work more authentically.
Resources Mentioned
Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness* by Frederic Laloux
Reinventing Organizations: An Illustrated Invitation to Join the Conversation on Next-Stage Organizations* by Frederic Laloux
Insights for the Journey video series by Frederic Laloux
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
The Way to Stay Grounded, with Parker Palmer (episode 378)
How to Be More Inclusive, with Stefanie Johnson (episode 508)
The Path Towards Trusting Relationships, with Edgar Schein and Peter Schein (episode 539)
End Imposter Syndrome in Your Organization, with Jodi-Ann Burey (episode 556)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.
Coaching for Leaders 