Are you aware of your field

Have you observed top performers who excel in one organization, but struggle when transitioned to another team or organization? Or vice versa?

This can be attributed to a concept called the Field Theory, first proposed by Kurt Lewin. Understanding and applying this theory is pivotal in the realm of Organizational Development.

Let’s delve into the experiences of two hypothetical graduate students, Sid and Thomas, to grasp the essence of the Field Theory.

Both get placed through campus and are excited to join workforce. They are keen to learn, contribute, meet new people, and build a career in their chosen field.

After few days of induction, when Sid joins his department, he is welcomed by his manager and the team. Over the next few weeks, he is encouraged to share his ideas; he enjoys the open debates that happen in team meetings. He makes mistakes in few deliverables and is worried. But his anxiety is baseless – instead of getting angry, his manager explains what he should have done differently and what precautions he should take in future.

Thomas has a different experience. The day he joins, his manager is caught up in a crisis, the entire team seemed to be dousing some fire. He sits quietly in an assigned corner, reading the technical manuals and SOPs handed over to him. Over the next few weeks, he realizes that his manager prefers others to follow instructions. People stay within the outline of work given to them, and never cross the boundaries; they follow rules and take no risks.

Fast forward a year later, and we interview Sid and Thomas. Who is likely to be more confident, creative, and energetic? And why?

Field theory provides the reasons:
• Human beings behave as per their motivation or individual needs.
• However, their behavior is also dependent on the FIELD in which they operate.
• The field is likely to influence a person’s perceptions, feelings, actions, and decisions.

Thus, to understand an individual – his or her strengths, opportunities, capabilities, behaviors, or decisions – it is very critical to analyze the field in which he or she is operating in.

Field is a dynamic landscape where individuals navigate through a maze of influences and pressures. Individual beliefs, attitudes and personality traits interact with the field and shapes how individuals think, feel and act!

Question for you to ponder:
• What is the field in which I am operating?
• What are its forces?
• How is it influencing me, positively or negatively?
• Would I behave differently in a different field?
• Do I aspire to change the dynamics of the field I operate within?

If you are a manager, time to reflect:
• What field am I creating for my team member?
• How is it impacting them?
• What should I do more of? Less of?