Integral Leadership: The Emergence of the Deep Self in Service to the System
Introducing a holistic approach to developing leaders
It was 2012 and my college roommate Rachael and I were sitting on our couch in the living room. I was studying psychology, she was studying philosophy. We were wrapped up asking Life’s most fundamental and existential questions: Who am I , really? What am I meant to do in this lifetime? Who am I meant to become? What is my greatest contribution? What is all of this for, anyway?
And for over a decade I have been courting these questions, asking them of myself and others, seeking the heart and spirit of every matter, looking for the answers.
I’ve yet to come across anything definitive, but I am leaning into Rilke’s advice to “love the questions” and let the process of asking be as transformative as “living my way into the answers.”
And currently, I find myself in a rather delicious soup of leadership development, transforming systems, and psycho-spiritual development, and I would like to propose that the intersection of these holds a very interesting approach for developing the leaders that our world needs right now.
Over the next several weeks, I am going to share a holistic approach to developing leaders based on integral philosophy.
Leadership is the emergence of the deep Self. It is moving from persona to essence and from essence to the world service.
Bob Anderson and Bill Adams
Four Pillars of Integral Development
in·te·gral
/ˈin(t)əɡrəl,inˈteɡrəl/
adjective
necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental.
Ken Wilber, a prominent American philosopher and writer, is known for his integral theory, which attempts to integrate various perspectives from psychology, spirituality, philosophy, and science into a comprehensive framework. In his work, Wilber often discusses the concept of human development in multiple dimensions, including waking up, growing up, cleaning up, and showing up.
Waking Up
This concept refers to the process of spiritual awakening or enlightenment. Wilber discusses the idea of transcending the ego and accessing higher states of consciousness through meditation, contemplation, and other spiritual practices. He emphasizes the importance of realizing one's true nature beyond the individual ego and connecting with a larger, more universal reality.
Growing Up
Growing up, according to Wilber, involves psychological development and maturation. He draws from developmental psychology, particularly the work of theorists like Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg, to describe stages of cognitive, emotional, and moral development that individuals go through as they mature. Growing up involves expanding one's perspective, developing greater cognitive complexity, and integrating various aspects of one's personality.
Cleaning Up
This concept refers to the process of psychological healing and integration. Wilber emphasizes the importance of addressing unresolved psychological issues, traumas, and shadow elements that may hinder personal growth and development. Cleaning up involves working through past experiences, unconscious patterns, and emotional wounds in order to achieve greater wholeness and integration.
Showing Up
Showing up entails living authentically and responsibly in the world. Wilber emphasizes the importance of integrating spiritual realization, psychological maturity, and ethical behavior into one's daily life. Showing up involves embodying one's values, contributing positively to society, and engaging with the world in a way that reflects one's deepest principles and aspirations.
Overall, Wilber's perspective on waking up, growing up, cleaning up, and showing up emphasizes the interconnectedness of spiritual, psychological, and ethical dimensions of human development. He suggests that true growth and transformation involve addressing all these aspects of the self in an integrated and holistic manner.
And I assert that adopting this framework when considering the development of leaders, organizations, and systems will ensure a holistic approach that ultimately serves all beings and the planet.
If you’d like to learn more from Wilber himself, you can watch him on YouTube or read some of his works. My very favorites are Integral Psychology: Consciousness, Spirit, Psychology, Therapy and The Eye of Spirit: An Integral Vision for a World Gone Slightly Mad.
Another great integral teacher is Dustin DiPerna. I really appreciated this brief excerpt from his book, The Coming Waves.
Up Next: A Deep Dive on Each Pillar
Over the next several weeks I will take you on a deep dive of each pillar, starting with Waking Up next week.
This framework is the backbone to a creation that has been seeding in me for over six years. Remember my post last week about holding the tension? Well, this is what has been brewing, and it’s almost ready to be released into the world.
I’ll see you next week.
May this publication serve all beings, everywhere.
Soulful blessings,
Emily
This integral framework has been the key to my own development as a leader and creator in my field, and its my absolute delight to support my clients in their holistic development using this as a backdrop.
If you find yourself longing to explore this with a coach, feel free to schedule a consultation with me to get started.
