Adult Development Coaching…

(With Trauma-Aware Support)

We all know that children develop, but do we assume that once we’re adults, our mental capacity more or less stops developing?

That’s a common assumption, but it’s mistaken.

Adults have the potential to continue growing throughout their lives, but this development is not automatic. Certain conditions need to be present: sufficient challenge, space for reflection, and quality support that matches the level of challenge.

Think of a tree growing in distinct rings. People can grow throughout their lives, but growth is never guaranteed. To support our development, we need considerable challenge, quality support, intrinsic motivation, and perhaps—something I’m currently reflecting on—enough safety and connection to allow for exploration and growth.

Like a tree, we always carry the earlier rings of our development, and these foundations are essential to standing strong. As adults, it can be helpful to consciously step back into these earlier “rings” to view the world from a different perspective. For example, when navigating a difficult situation with someone who seems to see the world very differently—perhaps they are focused on the “right” way or are aligned with power dynamics—this perspective can help us understand their limitations and growth edges.

Why do we grow? To expand our capacity for seeing options and making choices, and to positively influence ourselves, our organizations, and our communities—especially in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

When you embark on a journey of adult development, it’s helpful to have a map. The illustration here depicts part of one such map, and there are larger, more detailed maps available that provide additional navigational tools.

More Reading:

• Kegan, R. (1994). In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

• Cook-Greuter, S. R. (2013). Nine levels of increasing embrace: A framework for understanding adult ego development. Boston, MA: Center for Research on Adult Development.

• Global Leadership Associates: Learn about the seven levels of leadership development here.

Genuine vertical development can benefit from bringing a trauma coach approach. If you feel like you are “missing something”—a gap in your growth, a “missing tree ring,” or a sense of missing files—this could be something worth exploring in a supportive coaching setting.

More Reading:

• Kegan's Cognitive-Developmental Theory: Kegan, R. (1994). In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

• Cook-Greuter, S. R. (2013). Nine levels of increasing embrace: A framework for understanding adult ego development. Boston, MA: Center for Research on Adult Development.

• From Global Leadership Associates, learn about the seven levels of Leadership Development: https://gla.global/the-glp-overview/

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Are you curious to know what stage you’re at? Great! Book now and let’s chat.