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Self-Sustaining Practices of Successful Social Change Agents: A Retreats Framework for Supporting Transformational Change

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Abstract

We advance a framework of three types of “retreats” – reflective, relational, and inspirational – that social change agents can use to sustain themselves through challenges inherent in their work. Retreats are defined as intentionally crafted spaces that provide opportunities for reflective practices, relational presence, and inspirational resources. The retreats framework is based on the experiences of a set of successful social entrepreneurs who have played a prominent role in establishing new organizations at the intersection of business in society. We bridge ideas of humanistic management, integral practice, and positive organizational scholarship to identify and detail the personal practices that enable social change agents to fortify themselves as they work toward establishing new institutions and successfully implementing impactful work over time. Findings from this study suggest that the ability for social change agents to sustain themselves is facilitated through the cultivation of retreats that enable these individuals to persevere through adversity in organizational settings, build resilience, advance personal well-being, contribute to humanity’s welfare, and achieve success in their transformational endeavors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manning School of Business, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA

    Erica L. Steckler

  2. Carroll School of Management, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA

    Sandra Waddock

Authors
  1. Erica L. Steckler
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  2. Sandra Waddock
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Correspondence to Erica L. Steckler.

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Appendix

Appendix

Exhibit 1

Table 2 General description of respondents in the study
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Exhibit 2

Table 3 Interview protocol
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Exhibit 3

Table 4 Categories and subtypes of personal sustainability retreats
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Exhibit 4

Table 5 A Personal sustainability framework
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Steckler, E.L., Waddock, S. Self-Sustaining Practices of Successful Social Change Agents: A Retreats Framework for Supporting Transformational Change. Humanist Manag J 2, 171–198 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41463-017-0031-9

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