Dealing with resistance to change ... and the change manager

Though many may still think of the maritime sector as an oil tanker rather than a speedboat, in reality the industry’s transformation is running at top speed, making full use of innovative digital technologies. And though many may still think of the maritime sector as a man’s world, in reality, well, they have a point … Women in the maritime sector are still highly underrepresented, especially at management level. But not for long, if you ask Céline Mortier and Prof. Christa Sys, two leading ladies of the maritime industry in Belgium.

The term “toxic leadership” is all over the news these days, most recently, e.g., in the articles about Plopsaland. But what is toxic leadership? In the news, it is often associated with “transgressive behavior” or “a strict level of control”. The question is: when do you cross the line? When does something completely legit such as holding an employee accountable for underachieving, suddenly become “transgressive”? And control is a fundamental part of management, so when does it become excessively strict, leading to burn-out?

Jacinda Ardern's decision to quit as Prime Minister of New Zealand already triggered a wide range of reactions, ranging from "Can women really have it all?" and "The strengths and pitfalls of empathy" to "In the current system, we're losing all the good guys...". A wide range of opinions, but the common denominator remains a narrow and outdated view of leadership and careers. We argue for a more collective and sustainable perspective, or a relay race rather than a sprint.