scholarly journals ‘You have to keep your head on your shoulders’: A systems psychodynamic perspective on women leaders

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude-Helene Mayer ◽  
Louise Tonelli ◽  
Rudolf M. Oosthuizen ◽  
Sabie Surtee
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Women Leadership ◽  
Tongue Position ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Education Resource ◽  
Role Confusion

Background:Women leaders within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa have increased in numbers over the past years and they have changed the dynamics in these institutions. Yet, it is a subject that has hardly been explored from the perspective of women leaders.Aim:The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of women leaders in HEIs from a systems psychodynamic perspective using the conflict, identity, boundaries, authority, roles, task (CIBART) model, a well-researched model to analyse systems psychodynamics and to gain a deeper understanding of (un)conscious dynamics within organisations.Methods:This qualitative study is based on Dilthey‘s modern hermeneutics. Interviews were conducted with 23 women leaders from the Higher Education Resource Services South Africa, network across 8 HEIs. Observations were conducted in one organisation to support the data analysis and interpretation. Data were analysed through content analysis.Findings:Findings show that women leaders re-evaluate and reconstruct themselves constantly within organisations. This continuous re-evaluation and reconstruction become visible through the constructs of the CIBART model. The findings reveal deeper insights into systems psychodynamics, which considers anxiety within the system where women leaders seem to contain such anxiety by mobilising specific defence mechanisms. Certain diversity markers, such as race, gender, mother tongue, position within the organisation and generational belonging play a role in creating the dynamics. Women leaders’ experience of de-authorisation and role confusion impacts significantly on women leadership and their action towards ownership.Practical implications: The study provides new, valuable and context-specific insights into women leadership seen through the lens of the CIBART model, highlighting unconscious dynamics that need practical attention in the HEIs to empower women leaders for gender-specific leadership training.Originality or value: Findings provide a foundation for future research on women leaders and applied solutions to empower women leaders, whilst reducing anxiety within the system. The study provides complex insights, which should create increasing awareness in women leaders towards being containers of anxiety and creating new ways of empowered women leadership.

scholarly journals Emotional intelligence in South African women leaders in higher education

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude-Hélène Mayer ◽  
Rudolf M. Oosthuizen ◽  
Sabie Surtee
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
South African ◽  
African Women ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Leadership Qualities ◽  
South African Women

Orientation: This study contributes to an in-depth understanding of emotional intelligence (EI) in women leaders in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa from an inside perspective.Research purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore EI in South African women leaders working in HEIs to identify women leader’s strengths, foci and their possible areas of development. The aim is to get deeper insights in EI in women leaders because EI is associated with effective leadership qualities, creativity and innovation, as well as empathetic communication which is needed in the challenging HEI workplaces.Motivation for the study: Emotional intelligence is an important source for women leaders to increase leadership qualities. This study is motivated by a deep interest to explore aspects of EI in women leaders in this specific professional context.Research design, approach and method: The study uses a qualitative research design and an approach based on Dilthey’s modern hermeneutics of ‘Verstehen’ (understanding). Twenty-three women leaders of the Higher Education Research Service (HERS-SA) network were interviewed through semi-structured interviews. One researcher observed behaviour in one HEI to support the interpretation of the data. Data were analysed through content analysis.Main findings: Findings show that women leaders mainly refer to intrapersonal emotional quotient (EQ), followed by interpersonal EQ, adaptability, stress management and, finally, general mood. The most highly rated components of EQ are self-regard, followed by interpersonal relationships, problem solving, empathy, emotional self-awareness, assertiveness, impulse control and social responsibility. Findings also provide ideas on what EQ components can be further developed.Practical/managerial implications: New insights are provided on what components of EI should be developed in women leaders to increase overall EI, on cognitive and behavioural levels.Contribution/value-add: This research provides new and original context-specific insights on EI in HEIs in South Africa, which can be used as a basis for future research on women leaders while providing a knowledge base for contemporary training of EI in HEIs.

scholarly journals Emotional Labour among Women Leaders within the South African Consulting Industry: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Inquiry

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reevasha Pillay ◽  
Aden-Paul Flotman ◽  
Jeremy Mitonga-Monga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Human Resource Practices ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Emotional Context ◽  
Emotional Labour ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽  
Consulting Industry

The opinion that the workplace should be viewed as a rational environment is being swiftly dismantled by acknowledging and harnessing the power of emotions in favour of individual and organisational outcomes. This study explored the lived experiences of emotional labour among women leaders in the consulting industry in South Africa. A qualitative study was conducted and informed by the hermeneutic phenomenological perspective. Data were gathered through in-depth, unstructured interviews with eight women leaders resident in the Gauteng Province, South Africa. The data gathered were analysed by applying a hermeneutic phenomenological analysis, and interpreted from a work- and personally related emotional labour stance. The empirical findings suggest that these women leaders enjoy very little work-life balance, which is accepted as common practice in this industry. Role complexity and personal life obligations result in role conflict. Their emotional wellbeing is adversely affected, which manifests in guilt, loneliness, loss of identity, alienation, shame and the emotional exhaustion they experience. Furthermore, it seems that adequate organisational support is not experienced by women leaders in this volatile, highly pressured emotional context. This study contributes to the field of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, the literature on emotional labour, as well as human resource practices such as talent management, retention strategies and the career management of women leaders in the consulting industry by making suggestions for human resource practices and future research.

scholarly journals CONCEPTS OF CREATIVE LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN LEADERS IN 21ST CENTURY

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude-Hélène Mayer ◽  
Rudolf M. Oosthuizen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Creative Leadership ◽  
And Gender

This article presents the subjective perspectives of women leaders working in higher education institutions in the 21st century in South Africa. It focuses in particular on creativity as demonstrated by women leaders working in culturally and gender diverse post-apartheid settings. The aim is to contribute to the discourse on the creativity of women leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds within South Africa higher education institutions by examining how women leaders experience creativity and what creativity means to them from a qualitative perspective. The study reported on assessed the experiences of creativity of 23 women leaders and their views on creativity and creative leadership by means of a research paradigm based on Wilhelm Dilthey’s modern hermeneutics. It used qualitative research methods, such as semi-structured interviews, as well as observations within one selected higher education institution. Data was analysed by means of content analysis. Quality research criteria and ethical considerations were upheld. The findings highlight the creative skills and attitudes of women leaders underlying successful leadership and the types of creative leadership applied. They suggest that women leaders’ creativity manifests in facilitating creativity in higher education institutions by fostering the creativity of others rather than directing their own creative vision through or integrating it in the work of employees.

Technology versus Quality Education in an Underdeveloped Region: A Case Study of UNISA Students in Former Ciskei Homeland in Eastern Cape

10.28945/3780 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agyei Fosu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Regional Economies ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
Underdeveloped Region

Aim/Purpose: This paper seeks to show how University of South Africa (UNISA) is using technology to connect lecturers, tutors and students of [UNISA] in an underdeveloped region in South Africa (SA) to reduce cost and time of travelling to access information, tutorials and help [available] in designated centers, hence making quality and higher education more accessible and less costly. Background: This empirical study gives evidence to back the effectiveness, helpfulness and cost reduction of using technology as a medium of making quality and higher education accessible to under developed regions. Methodology Quantitative and purposeful sampling was deemed appropriate for the study, whereby 200 questionnaires was developed and specifically distributed to UNISA students from former Ciskei towns at East London Tutorial Center. Contribution: The paper is about the usage of mobile technology for knowledge creation and dissemination, instruction and learning, The data generated and presented add to the knowledge base about underdeveloped countries. This data and the conclusions reached based the analysis could be of interest to researchers, university administrators, politicians, planners and policy makers in underdeveloped countries. Findings: Evaluation of the overall effectiveness, helpfulness and cost reduction of e-tutorials show a slight advantage over the face-face tutorials. Recommendations for Practitioners: In the quest for ways and means of making quality and higher education accessible to underdeveloped regions, no matter which medium is chosen, the periodic measurement of success in terms of effectiveness, helpfulness, and cost implication in relation to the learner cannot be over looked. Recommendation for Researchers: More work needs to be done to check the effectiveness of technology as an efficient medium to provide access to quality and higher education to underdeveloped regional economies. Impact on Society The results could have significant implications for raising the level of education and advancing employment equity by improving the delivery and accessibility to quality and higher education to underdeveloped regional economies. Future Research: The analysis of cost efficiency and effectiveness done in this work is just representative of one point of view: the student one of accessibility and cost. There is, however, need in future work to research the implications for the institutions of higher education (in terms teaching design, curriculum design, knowledge of individual learning types, need for change in and rate of change in knowledge view, learning philosophies), individual stakeholders, and the competitive repositioning of society.

Creative Leadership in the Face of Crisis

2021 ◽  
pp. 107-115
Author(s):  
Camille A. McKayle
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Women Leadership ◽  
Creative Leadership ◽  
The Face ◽  
Leadership Approaches ◽  
Woman Leader

This chapter will look at leadership approaches, especially through the lens of a woman leader in higher education. What types of leadership approaches might be best suited in times of broad reaching crises? The author explores transformative and creative leadership approaches and approaches and attributes of leadership that are often displayed by women leaders. In times of widespread personal crises that extends outside the immediate workplace, for example hurricane destruction or pandemic, it may be that a communal approach to leadership, based in honesty and compassion and traditionally attributed to women leadership style, might be the appropriate choice.

Women Higher Education Administrators

2021 ◽  
pp. 36-54
Author(s):  
Tenisha L. Tevis ◽  
Meghan Pifer ◽  
Vicki L. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Education Administration ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Higher Education Administrators ◽  
Education Leaders ◽  
The Social ◽  
Higher Education Leaders ◽  
Education Administrators

In the multiple crises of 2020, a common narrative emerged about the effectiveness of women leaders in responding at the local, national, and international levels. Their behaviors suggested a reliance on adaptation. As microcosms of the social structures in which they exist, postsecondary institutions are not exempt from the task of leadership through crises; however, little is known about women leaders in higher education administration in times of crisis. Though having the ability to adapt has shown to be paramount for organizational success and thriving, it is virtually unknown whether women higher education leaders take an adaptive approach during crises. Thus, the authors went beyond recent headlines to understand women higher education leaders in contexts riddled with crises. Findings provide illustrative evidence of the six tenets of adaptive leadership to inform practice and future research.

Technology Versus Quality Education in an Underdeveloped Region: A Case Study of UNISA Students in Former CISKEI Homeland in Eastern Cape

10.31355/8 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 001-011
Author(s):  
Agyei Fosu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Regional Economies ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
Underdeveloped Region

NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE INFORMING SCIENCE INSTITUTE. Aim/Purpose................................................................................................................................................................................................. This paper seeks to show how University of South Africa (UNISA) is using technology to connect lecturers, tutors and students of [UNISA] in an underdeveloped region in South Africa (SA) to reduce cost and time of travelling to access information, tutorials and help [available] in designated centers, hence making quality and higher education more accessible and less costly. Background................................................................................................................................................................................................. This empirical study gives evidence to back the effectiveness, helpfulness and cost reduction of using technology as a medium of making quality and higher education accessible to under developed regions. Methodology................................................................................................................................................................................................. Quantitative and purposeful sampling was deemed appropriate for the study, whereby 200 questionnaires was developed and specifically distributed to UNISA students from former Ciskei towns at East London Tutorial Center. Contribution................................................................................................................................................................................................. The paper is about the usage of mobile technology for knowledge creation and dissemination, instruction and learning, The data generated and presented add to the knowledge base about underdeveloped countries. This data and the conclusions reached based the analysis could be of interest to researchers, university administrators, politicians, planners and policy makers in underdeveloped countries. Findings......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Evaluation of the overall effectiveness, helpfulness and cost reduction of e-tutorials show a slight advantage over the face-face tutorials. Recommendations for Practitioners............................................................................................................................................................. In the quest for ways and means of making quality and higher education accessible to underdeveloped regions, no matter which medium is chosen, the periodic measurement of success in terms of effectiveness, helpfulness, and cost implication in relation to the learner cannot be over looked. Recommendation for Researchers.................................................................................................................................................................. More work needs to be done to check the effectiveness of technology as an efficient medium to provide access to quality and higher education to underdeveloped regional economies. Impact on Society.............................................................................................................................................................................................. The results could have significant implications for raising the level of education and advancing employment equity by improving the delivery and accessibility to quality and higher education to underdeveloped regional economies. Future Research................................................................................................................................................................................................. The analysis of cost efficiency and effectiveness done in this work is just representative of one point of view: the student one of accessibility and cost. There is, however, need in future work to research the implications for the institutions of higher education (in terms teaching design, curriculum design, knowledge of individual learning types, need for change in and rate of change in knowledge view, learning philosophies), individual stakeholders, and the competitive re-positioning of society.

Exploring stakeholder roles in the management of indoor environmental quality of higher education institutes in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mpho Ndou ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
Wellington Didibhuku Thwala
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Stakeholder Management ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Roles

PurposeThis study aims to explore the influential role stakeholder play in the management of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in facilities of higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. By defining the indoor environmental challenges facing HEI's, an alternative redress to these challenges can be achieved through stakeholder management.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative survey approach which was informed by a post-positivism philosophical stance. The closed-ended questionnaire survey was used to gather views from academic and administrative staff who were employed in various HEIs across South Africa. The literature review revealed 13 influential stakeholder management roles which were explored. The gathered data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics that evaluated the influential role stakeholder play in the management of IEQ in HEIs.FindingsExploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed three core categories of stakeholder management roles to being community engagement and awareness, organisational commitment and objective function. These roles play an integral part of overhauling the current IEQ conditions in HEIs, which subsequently improves the quality of education through efficient academic and administrative performance.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the body of knowledge as it reveals that HEI, particularly in developing countries like South Africa, can improve their current IEQ conditions through adopting critical stakeholder management roles. Also, this study provides further theoretical background for future research in the area of stakeholder management which has been lacking in previous IEQ studies.

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