Psychological Capabilities Required for Continuous Transformations: The Self on Permanent Journeys with a Travelling Organization

Abstract

This article takes the perspective of developmental and personality psychology to summarize what the personality and the development of its coherent self require—according to current knowledge—to develop a good structural level of flexible, yet stable ego functions and diverse/hybrid capabilities of the self. The latter are considered to be factors that organizations should take into particular account in the question of how the concept of organizations in (permanent) transformation and the concept of persons with their selves fit together as the psychological organization of the individual in the context of a travelling organization. Which types of personality are particularly helpful for organizations undergoing transformations, what diversity should be aimed at from the perspective of developmental and personality psychology? How can travelling organizations with their global requirements today use insights into the differentiated/diverse/hybrid capabilities of the self for optimal efficiency and effectiveness in their transformation journey and, specifically, in connective cooperation and communication across local and global teams? What developmental psychological perspectives are there for personality types who may initially seem less suited to transformations to still engage and drive transformations effectively and efficiently after all? The answers to these fundamental questions are summarized at the end of this article in the chapter Conclusions and Takeaways. So this article provides practical recommendations for action from the perspective of the individual, but also of the travelling organization.