PLS Learning Culture Ladder
COLLABORATION, RESILIENCE AND LEADERSHIP
In families, kindergartens, and schools
Strengthening collaboration and authoritative leadership
to promote learning, development, and resilience in the face of challenges.
By Hans Holter Solhjell.
This is part of an article series on the PLS Framework. See the full series here.
Collaboration on robustness, security and authoritative adult role in the face of challenges
What is the PLS Learning Culture Ladder?
The PLS Learning Culture Ladder is a team and organisational development model designed to assess and enhance collaboration, authoritative leadership and resilience in response to challenges. Typical challenges can be conflicts that escalate, disruptive or aggressive behaviours, bullying etc.
The model is created initially for use in kindergartens and schools but can also be used for other types of organisations and even families, couples etc.
The model describes levels of learning and collaboration culture within teams and organizations. It can be used as a reflection tool to assess where your team currently stands. The goal is to provide a structured overview that supports processes aimed at strengthening collaboration, leadership, and learning environments.
A Culture Development Model
The model outlines a progression from lower levels characterized by low psychological safety, fragmented communication, and limited accountability, to higher levels where resilient, flexible, Authoritative and collaborative practices dominate.
At the higher levels, teams and organizations are marked by:
- Shared mental models that are actively used
- High levels of skills in Authoritative leadership, communication and conflict resolution
- Secure functioning and group psychological safety
- Open dialogue about situational understanding and shared goals
- A strong capacity for collaborative problem-solving and adaptation to change
The Learning Culture Ladder highlights the importance of a learning-oriented mindset, active problem-solving dialogue, and shared mental models as the foundation for effective collaboration. It also emphasizes the need to develop both individual skills and collective practices that foster trust, mastery, and long-term development.
Theoretical Foundation
The Learning Culture Ladder is informed by theories on:
- Learning organizations and dynamic systems (Senge)
- Organizational culture (Schein)
- Psychological safety (Edmondson)
- Transformational leadership (Bass & Avolio)
- Complexity leadership (Uhl-Bien, Marion & McKelvey)
- Self-determination and relatedness (Deci & Ryan)
- Group development (Tuckman)
- Change processes (Kegan & Lahey)
The model provides a structured overview but is necessarily a simplification of complex interactions between individual, relational, and organizational factors. A team’s position on the ladder can shift over time, depending on the context and the specific challenges they face.
Areas of Application
The model serves as a practical tool for:
- Reflection for leaders, educators, therapists, and other professionals working with learning culture, development, and change processes.
- Assessment of current practices in teams and organizations.
- Strengthening psychological safety to support learning and development.
- Developing authoritative leadership at both individual, team and organizational levels.
- Encouraging change processes and building resilience, flexibility, and adaptability in response to challenges.
Identifying systemic barriers and developing strategies for sustainable collaboration and leadership.
Want to learn more?
Would you like to explore how to use the PLS Framework, the PLS Learning Culture Ladder, or book a course or training? Feel free to reach out via our contact form.
More Resources
This is part of an article series on the PLS Framework. See the full series here.
- PLS Learning Culture Ladder - March 11, 2025
- PLS Læringskulturtrappen samarbeid robusthet og resiliens - February 26, 2025
- Podcast om trassalderen med Hans Holter Solhjell og Marte Sæteren - October 8, 2024