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Negative capability: Managing the confusing uncertainties of change

French, Robert

Authors

Robert French



Abstract

Explores how psychoanalytic thinking can contribute to the management of the conflicting emotions stimulated by cliange. Suggests that successful change management depends on a combination of "positive" and "negative" capabilities. The positive capabilities involve the management of the substantive content of any change initiative, the cliange process itself, and tlie roles and procedures required by both of these. However, even wlien these three "technical" aspects are iceH managed, cliange ahcays arouses anxiety and uncertainty. As a result, there is a tendency to "disperse" energy; that is, to be deflected from the task into a range of avoidance tactics. Through a particular understanding of such "dispersal" and its opposite, the "capacity to contain", psychoanalysis can suggest how this counterproductive tendency may be more effectively managed. The British psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion called this capacity to contain "negative capability". © MCB University Press.

Citation

French, R. (2001). Negative capability: Managing the confusing uncertainties of change. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 14(5), 480-492. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005876

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2001
Journal Journal of Organizational Change Management
Print ISSN 0953-4814
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Not Peer Reviewed
Volume 14
Issue 5
Pages 480-492
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005876
Keywords negative capability, managing, change
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1084471
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005876




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