This week on the podcast, I welcome back adult development expert, Susanne Cook-Greuter, to discuss the most advanced stages of leadership maturity. Each of these stages is both increasingly complex—bringing new capacities and new challenges—and increasingly rare. We discuss:
- Self-actualizing or Strategist stage
- Construct-aware/Ego-aware or Alchemist stage
- Unitive or Ironist stage
Susanne and I previously spoke in episode 36 about the how vertical development works and what’s common between all developmental models.
In episode 37 we explored how developmental theory helps us reframe two everyday challenges: work/career and pivotal conversations.
In both episodes, we focused on the development stages where 80 percent of adults in the West live. But what about the stages beyond that? What is it like to live there?
That is the focus of this episode.
Our conversation was a genuine “wow.” My mind got a vigorous calisthenic workout, and we teamed up to investigate common confusions about these later stages.
Have a seat, go for a walk, get on a plane, and take a listen. This is one you’ll want to share with friends!
Highlights
- 8:50 Self-Actualizing/Strategist stage (5-6% of adults in West)
- 19:00 Capacity to take a stand on ideals
- 26:00 When growth first really matters to us
- 30:30 Tempted to take an early retirement package from development?
- 35:00 “Look how much I know about myself!”
- 36:00 Construct Aware/Ego Aware/Alchemist stage (<1% of adults in West)
- 41:00 “Am I nuts?”
- 44:00 The limits of mapmaking and trying to get beyond the ego
- 47:00 Unitive or Ironist stage
- 51:30 Experiencing the wonder of things—consistently
- 1:00:00 The virtues of hanging out at—and acting from—Self-Actualizing/Strategist
Listen to the Podcast
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Explore Additional Resources
- The Center for Leadership Maturity, Dr. Cook-Greuter’s consulting, training, research, and coaching firm
- Intensive programs in the the Leadership Maturity Framework and Maturity Assessment for Professionals (MAP) instrument
- Article summarizing Dr. Cook-Greuter’s developmental framework
- Postautonomous Ego Development, Dr. Cook-Greuter’s landmark study of highly developed adults
- Integral European Conference 2018
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