It is generally believed that we stop developing and that our beliefs and values are fixed following adolescence.
Many leading psychologists now dispute this claim and instead refer to a continual development with no upper limit.
Dr Robert Kegan, a leading Harvard Scholar, proposed 5 key stages to adult development and believes that most adults never make it past Stage 3!
It’s all about transformation
According to Kegan, the key is not about learning new things (adding things to the ‘container’ of the mind); it’s about transformation, changing how we know and understand the world (changing the actual form of our ‘container’).
This article will discuss how to transform as an adult and move up through the stages; however, first, we must understand and identify fully with where we are right now (and I’ll give you a tip – most people overestimate their stage!)
Kegan’s 5 stages of adult development:
- Stage 1 — Impulsive mind (early childhood)
- Stage 2 — Imperial mind (adolescence, 6% of the adult population)
- Stage 3 — Socialised mind (58% of the adult population) – Your thoughts and beliefs come from external sources, and you seek external validation to derive your sense of self. You care about others and how you make them feel but take on a lot of personal responsibility for how other people perceive you.
- Stage 4 — Self-Authoring mind (35% of the adult population) – You know you are constantly changing and developing, and you question your beliefs and values. You take responsibility for your emotions, explore your thoughts and feelings, and establish your authority and voice. You develop an independent view and aren’t shaped by others.
- Stage 5 — Self-Transforming mind (1% of the adult population) – You hold multiple thoughts, ideas, and emotions at once, understand different perspectives and enjoy the paradox of this. You live a self-authoring life and continually question your hidden assumptions and beliefs.
As the majority of the adult population resides in Stage 3, we’ll start there and look at how to develop and transform into a self-authoring mind (Stage 4) and how you can start to develop characteristics of the elusive Stage 5.
How to transform
- Getting clear on ‘you’ – Achieve genuine clarity on what you think and believe by practising curiosity, critical reflection and openness. It’s likely you currently construct your beliefs and thoughts based on a mix of what you and others think. Start to become aware and question your thoughts without judgement.
- Live your truth – Honour your internal voice and commitments and take charge in your self-authored life. In step 1, you identified your internal truth, and now it is time to step away from dissonance and live aligned to those wants and values. It’s not easy, but through continual practice and having honest and rational discourse, your confidence in living your life your way will increase.
- Constant awareness and humility – Consider yourself living with the ‘L’ plates permanently on. You’re constantly questioning, seeing multiple perspectives and feel fully able to express yourself in the safety of your people without fear or guilt. You’re humbled by life and subscribe to the theory that your personal growth is never complete, and you’re willing to put in the continual work to keep advancing.
- Transcending yourself – most experts agree that real growth comes when we remove ourselves from our ego and begin to see the bigger picture. Self-transcendent experiences (STEs) are an altered form of consciousness. They can be experienced along a spectrum, starting with ‘getting lost in a good book’ through meditation, prayer, being immersed in nature and into the realms of psychedelics!
David Yaden, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, says, “When the self temporarily disappears, so too may some of these fears and anxieties.” In this place of true self-connection, peace and focus – incredibly positive outcomes and shifts in personal development can occur.
How this affects us at work?
So far, we’ve been discussing the theory generally and making it applicable across your entire life, but let’s get specific about how these theories can transform how we develop as leaders, colleagues and managers.
Working towards self-authorship and self-transformation provides the platform for more mature work relationships, understanding complex perspectives without the overwhelm of external influence, and the confidence to act on wise choices and collaborate productively with colleagues.
As a manager/leader, it is part of your duty of care to others to develop and transform yourself not only as a role model but in increasing your capacity to lead without fear, balance competing interests and make sage judgements that can catalyse continual growth of self, team and organisation.
How can we support you?
My Career Rhythms are leaders in people development. We specialise in helping women in Higher Education identify strengths and develop their career and leadership from a place of well-being.
If you’d like to see how we can support you and your people to grow and develop, contact us to book a free initial consultation or read more about our program design, coaching, and facilitation services.
