In this episode of the Board Dynamics podcast, Dorrit engages in a deep conversation with Peter Koefoed, a seasoned psychologist with extensive experience in both psychotherapeutic and organisational settings. Dorrit and Peter explore the concept of mentalization and its significance in board dynamics, particularly during critical situations like succession. Peter shares insights on how understanding the emotional and psychological aspects of board members can enhance decision-making and foster a more collaborative environment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Mentalization in Board Dynamics: Mentalization is the ability to understand actions in terms of thoughts, feelings, wishes, and desires, which is crucial for effective collaboration in board settings.

• Importance of Acknowledging Differences: In a board, members come from diverse backgrounds and represent various interests. Acknowledging these differences and creating a safe space for discussion can enhance trust and improve decision-making processes.

• Handling Succession Crises: Succession, especially when unexpected, can create a crisis within a board. It’s essential to recognise the emotional investments in the outgoing leader and facilitate discussions that allow members to express their feelings and concerns.

• Active Listening Techniques: Implementing active listening strategies, such as summarising others’ viewpoints before presenting one’s own, can foster a more inclusive environment.

• Continuous Reflection and Integration: Regularly revisiting past discussions and decisions in meetings can help maintain continuity and integration within the board.

BEST MOMENTS

“Mentalizing is the ability to understand actions by both other people and oneself in terms of thoughts, feelings, wishes and desires.”

“If the board is malfunctioning and only some on the board is heard and seen, that will create a dynamic which is not healthy.”

“You have to acknowledge people’s differences. Maybe when you hear people that are expressing exactly the opposite as yourself, you maybe will find that it resonates at something in yourself.”

“It’s important to spend some time letting people talk about what is going on and what… qualities and competences we need with the new CEO.”

“You can actually do it, but also accepting that daily board work is not, there’s a pressure on time, but you have to balance it.”

HOST BIO

Dorrit Kromann uses her competent network to provide solutions to real problems in boards. Dorrit is experienced in organisational development, going from turnarounds in hospitals to the growth of IT start-ups. From the board experience, Dorrit has used the psychodynamic organisational psychology to onboard, understand and solve any board challenge, going from how to recruit new members to business challenges to conflicts of interest.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

Have you ever been stuck in a challenge in a board meeting? Have you ever felt unheard in a board meeting? Have you ever thought that the business and strategy go in the wrong direction? Have you ever had a suspicion that something was wrong in the company?

Board Dynamics podcast will take you through some cases showing these challenges, analyse the cases and tell you what to do in such situations.