Psychologist Robert Kegan's work on stages of adult development has been one of the most influential on me in the last year (thanks @GrahamDuncanNYC)
In short, Kegan believes development is the ability to make object what was once subject, unlocking higher level systems thinking
In short, Kegan believes development is the ability to make object what was once subject, unlocking higher level systems thinking
Very useful as a framework for improving as a manager, in relationships, and in thinking broadly.
Good Stanford Psychology summary here: tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/1110
Good Stanford Psychology summary here: tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/1110
There are 5 stages of adult development in Kegan's model. A few of the stages (what he calls "Orders"):
Order 0: Total inability to grasp concepts or separate any experiences from the self. Are subject to everything occurring around then. Newborn babies are Order 0.
Order 0: Total inability to grasp concepts or separate any experiences from the self. Are subject to everything occurring around then. Newborn babies are Order 0.
Order 3 ("Socialized Mind"): Ability to construct durable categories and think across them (beginnings of systems level thinking). Experience others as sources of internal validation, orientation, or authority. Most adults.
Order 5 ("Self-Transforming Mind"): Ability to generalize across abstractions (advanced systems level thinking). Able to step outside own frame when looking at systems. Kegan estimates less than 1% of all adults become self-transforming.
Excellent leaders create the conditions to help others reach higher levels. Specifically, they create holding environments that allow others to build a consciousness bridge from one order to the next. These environments are extremely rare.
Here is an example in student coaching:
Here is an example in student coaching:
