CENTER FOR APPLIED
THEORY OF MIND
PERSPECTIVE TAKING, GAINING, SHIFTING & SHAPING
ORGANIZATIONS
We Help You Answer the Why
Uncover the causes. Unlock the potential.
When it comes to organizational development projects CAToM partners with a trusted network of consultants and facilitators to deliver broader organizational development services.
CAToM also partners with personnel within the client organization, for instance HR employees, when assistance is available internally. The last option has great advantages such as an increased level of ownership and acceptance of change, faster and better contextual insight, a shared learning experience and it is financially more attractive.
We help organizations to answer questions such as:
Why is my team underperforming?
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Are communication breakdowns holding us back?
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Do unclear roles and responsibilities cause confusion?
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Are conflicts or low morale affecting productivity?
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Is collaboration working effectively?
Why is my organization underperforming?
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Are goals and strategies misaligned?
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Are external pressures or barriers slowing us down?
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Are leadership gaps affecting performance?
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Is there resistance to change, diversity, or inclusion?
We Operate on the Following Levels
Individual (Personal Performance)
The focus is on enhancing core self-evaluations (CSE) (self-efficacy, self-esteem, emotional stability and internal locus of control) as well as skills-based coaching in areas such as leadership, interpersonal skills and time management guided by intrapersonal mentalizing.
Team (Group Dynamics)
In this system the focus is on building collective mental understanding and strength to enhance cooperation and facilitate conflict resolution guided by interpersonal mentalizing.
Organizational (Workplace/Institutional Performance)
The focus here is on shaping organizational culture, fostering leadership, and creating mentally healthy, high-performance environments guided by basic, affective and strategic mentalizing.
Societal (Broader Social Context)
In this system the focus is on addressing external pressures and cultural expectations that impact performance guided by strategic mentalizing.
Support (Interpersonal Networks)
Here the focus is on connecting with and supporting coaches, mentors, leaders, managers, peers, etc. guided by interpersonal mentalizing.
Services
At CAToM, we support individuals, teams, and organizations in creating meaningful, lasting change. Our services are designed to foster clarity, connection, and growth at every level—personal, relational, and systemic.
We offer:
Our Approach
Effective individual and organizational interventions are grounded in ongoing assessment, adaptation and evaluation to achieve optimal results. Our approach integrates mentalization with other evidence-based techniques, ensuring comprehensive and impactful solutions. We use techniques such as:
Solution-Focused Team Coaching (SFC), a goal-oriented, evidence-based approach that applies principles and techniques from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). SFC emphasizes solutions rather than problems. It is designed to help teams identify and amplify their strengths and resources to achieve specific, realistic goals in a relatively short amount of time.
Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), a subfield of applied behavior analysis (ABA) that focuses on improving individual and group performance within organizational settings. It uses behavior science principles, such as reinforcement, feedback, and measurement, to promote effective workplace behavior and achieve organizational goals. We use OBM for instance to develop and evaluate leadership styles. Leaders can adapt their styles (e.g., servant, holistic, democratic, situational, or transformational) or employ the Situational Leadership Model based on OBM metrics to optimize results.
These are just two examples of our approach. When appropriate, we draw on other techniques to best support your needs. Mentalization complements these approaches by focusing on the understanding of mental states, both one's own and others'. When integrated, these techniques not only target behavior and skills but also deepen empathy, improve self-awareness and foster stronger interpersonal connections. This holistic approach is particularly effective for improving outcomes in both personal and organizational contexts with a strong emphasis on mental well-being.
Organizational Impact
Social Agency and Agentic Power
Your organization or team will have an enhanced ability to initiate and maintain action plans, even in the face of internal silos, bureaucracy, or external pressures. By cultivating collective agency, your people will be empowered to act with greater autonomy, resilience and alignment with shared goals.
Psychological Safety
Your organization or team will foster a culture of psychological safety, where individuals feel empowered to take risks, express ideas, raise concerns and admit mistakes without fear of judgment or retaliation. This foundation of trust enhances collaboration, accelerates learning and drives innovation across teams.
Effective Intentional Communication
Your organization or team will have strengthened purposeful and strategic communication abilities at every level of the organization, from clients and stakeholders to partner organizations and government institutions. These skills help build trust, resolve tensions and create alignment in even the most complex environments.
Social Embeddedness
Your organization or team will experience a stronger social embeddedness through the ability to identify and build strong, trust-based alliances, both internally and externally. It supports early recognition of misaligned or untrustworthy dynamics and fosters a culture that discourages unethical competition, encouraging cooperation, integrity and shared success.