Opening Insights
(December 20, 1914-January 10, 1995)A pioneer in humanistic psychology and the originator of Trust Level theory, Jack Gibb’s distinguished career as a psychologist and consultant spanned five decades. Often referred to as the grandfather of organizational development, he applied TORI theory to all forms of organizations, from corporations and governments to schools, churches, and hospitals. He was the original proponent of the importance of trust in team dynamics and organizational behavior, and the effect of trust on creativity.
He was an early innovator at the renowned National Training Laboratories in Bethel, Maine, where behavioral scientists performed the pioneering work in team dynamics, communication, sensitivity training, and leadership training in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Jack was one of the first and most highly regarded T-Group (training group) leaders at NTL, served as Director of Research, and co-authored two books with the three NTL founders: T-Group Theory and Laboratory Method and The Laboratory Method of Changing and Learning. His seminal book was Trust: A New Vision of Human Relationships for Business, Education, Family, and Personal Living.
An internationally acclaimed consultant, Jack consulted for IBM, AT&T, General Motors, Dow, DuPont, the State Department, the IRS, TVA, YMCA, and the National Council of Churches. He held a doctorate in psychology from Stanford and has taught at Brigham Young, Michigan State, and the University of Colorado, where he also directed the Group Process Laboratory.
Informational Insights
Jack is past President of the Association for Humanistic Psychology, a diplomat of the American Board of Professional Psychology, and a fellow of the APA, ASA, the NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Sciences, and of the International Association of Applied Social Sciences.
He contributed chapters to 26 professional books on management, organizational development, group dynamics, human potential, communication, and education, and over 350 articles to professional journals on those subjects and on learning theory, therapy, and counseling. His classic article “Defensive Communication,” written in 1960, continues to be the standard in the field. Over one million copies of the article have been distributed to staff of various corporations.
Jack received numerous international awards for his contributions to the fields of psychology, education, communications, organizational development, and world peace. His work focused on capturing and translating a new vision of a more trusting world.
Source: Biography: Jack Gibb PhD
Jack was a Mentor of Dr. Richard Jorgensen. Their deep bond and friendship has stood the test of time and will continue for an eternity. Richard often says life is a measure of the steps that we take and the people we take those steps with. Richard teaches about the importance of living a life of passion, purpose, skill and wisdom to uncover and discover self and others.
Possibilities for Consideration
Many people today are so wrapped up in self they fail to relate, connect and learn from great mentors, leaders and teachers and their legacies die along with them. We must change the tide and paradigm of selfishness, if we are to survive and truly live amongst and within the human race. In doing so, we must learn to value great leaders, men and teachers past and present.
Take a moment and examine…
- As you reviewed the material above, what stood out to you?
- What is the potential impact, economically and/or socially?
- What action is needed to stop or support this idea?
- You may want to consider whether you:
- want to be aware of,
- should become supportive of,
- would want to be active in this topic?
Add Your Insight
I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Being willing is not enough; we must do.
LEONARDO DA VINCI