REFLECTIONS ON CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP

274 REFLECTIONS ON CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP

about personal change or organizational change. Both processes have to

happen one individual at a time. Many organizational psychologists

(basing their theories on the fi ndings of developmental and clinical

psychology) consider that organizational change and transformation has

to be embedded in the process of individual change.

An important task for new European leaders is therefore to mobilize

their followers ’ resources and help them avoid the paralysis that some-

times greets the new and unknown. We have already noted some of the

diversities that exist within Europe. Here are some of the associated

worries that preoccupy Europeans:

• Job security.


• Surviving in the world of competition (both external and
  internal).


• Maintaining a European identity versus a national identity,
  both for people and companies, goods, and services (optimal
  distinctiveness).


• Managing relationships with large and unpredictable neighbors (e.g.
  Russia) and large economic and political powers in other parts of
  the world (e.g. USA, China, India, Brazil).


• Surviving with a diverse workforce (different languages, religions,
  work ethics, work practices, etc.).


• Dealing with the loss of certain benefi ts or social achievements
  because of increased competitiveness.


• Withstanding the global threat of terrorism, which, in addition to
  an overall psychological toll on the feeling of safety and security,
  has direct economic consequences on businesses.

These anxieties are accompanied by the huge expectations held by

European nations and the rest of the world regarding this unprecedented

experiment in building a super - economy. Together, they can give rise

to a set of psychological defenses within an organization ’ s workforce and

culture, and this is the root cause of the kind of resistance to change

manifested by the Perrier workers, for example, and helps to explain

why they sought to take control of their destiny by creating an AOC

for the company.

The Leader and ‘ Good - Enough ’ Care

It is the role of leaders to help their employees overcome such anxieties

and assume greater control of their lives. In many ways, the challenge