Anthropology in the workplace: Enhancing Group Dynamics?

An anthropological lens can be a powerful perspective in enhancing group effectiveness. I recently had a conversation with Mario Moussa, a management consultant turned award-winning author, on the Newton Talks podcast. We explored the intersection of anthropology on culture and organisational development, and I wanted to share my reflections from our discussion.

I remember a friend in university who was studying anthropology and focused on the Bushmen of South Africa. Back then, I didn’t connect the world of workplace psychology (which I was studying)?and anthropology. As far as I was concerned, they were two different disciplines and ‘never the twain shall meet’. Traditionally, anthropology is known to focus on human behaviours, culture and origins. It turns out there’s a lot that organisations?can learn from taking an anthological lens to explore culture change and organisational development.

Mario stresses the need for "slowing down, paying attention, and listening" as fundamental to being able to ‘see’ what’s happening in a group. That makes sense to me because we all need to belong – and fit in - which can blind us to noticing what’s happening around us.

?(As an aside, as AI is entering organisational life with the promise of greater productivity, I wonder if we’ll use the time we get back to do more or to slow down to see more? Hmm, more on that another time...)

Groups are a powerful force and play a big role in how organisations work. After all aren’t organisations simply groups working together to achieve a common aim? Anthropology looks at groups and enables a deeper understanding of how individuals interact and therefore contribute to the broader organisational dynamics.

We explored four key forces that influence culture: vision, interest, habit, and innovation and Mario explained that these forces are rooted in our tribal past. Knowing that the way groups work today is the same as the way they worked way back when,?is something I find interesting. ?That thread of humanity through time can teach us and guide us on how to be effective together. So, while the world around us seems to spin faster and faster, the emerging anthropological voice within me now says?‘Slow down, take a look around.’

?When I work with Executive groups, I find ways to do just that. Slow down. But it’s not easy. People want to make the most of the time together and get stuff done?-?be productive. I find that helping a group agree to slow down and notice what’s going on is productive.??For example, while working with one Executive group we slowed down to the extent that the group was able to notice the pent-up tension within a simple interpersonal conversation. And what was fascinating to the group, was to become aware that the interaction was more than just a conversation between two people - it was the group's culture. Being able to slow down and ‘see’ helped the group shift the way the members related to one another and enabled the group to be more effective.?

Mario shared lots more useful insights during our conversation. Here’s a link to the podcast episode if you want to hear more.