Shadow Working in Project Management aims at contributing to our knowledge of all things unconscious and irrational in our behaviour. It takes the form of an empirical research, and therefore addresses mostly the tools and techniques available to get in touch with Shadow aspects of self and collective, to recognize how it manifests, how it can lead to conflict, and ways to address it.
From that perspective, it advances on to question the underlying beliefs of current management practices. It explores as well the inherent need for control in projects, being those of a professional nature, or other ventures. It challenges the strength of the concept of the "rational man" and its protagonism.
Joana Bértholo's work explores the role and nature of the Shadow in the context of projects and their management, with an emphasis on techniques to address it. Despite being directed to managers and dedicated to the analyses of the managerial discourse, the tools and processes it proposes have universal relevance, based on the fact that the Shadow is everywhere, within everyone, from the individual to the global scale.
"Shadow Working in Project Management by Joana Bértholo is one of the most comprehensive works on Shadow outside that of Jung's work that I have seen. She brings you a 360° perspective of how Shadow emerges in project management. Through her research, she illustrates how individuals' Shadows are difficult enough to work with, however collective shadows that emerge within teams are even more complex. Joana reminds you of what isn't evident, the multiple facets of Shadow and ways to navigate through their complexity. It was an honour and privilege to be interviewed for the book and I will definitely recommend to my students, project managers, OD specialists and anyone who wants to take a deep dive with individuals and their teams." - Donna Karlin, author of Leaders: Their Stories, Their Words -Conversations with Human-Based Leaders?; Founder and Principal of the No Ceiling, Just Sky? Institute. ?
