Photography by Caitlin Swamy (January 12, 2016, Mt. Si, Washington State) 

Human Development Theory fascinates me. There are two types of development: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal development are skills and behaviors, whereas vertical development is thinking that guides our behavior (Gambrell 2016). Understanding constructive development helps leaders to better understand themselves and others. There are multiple advantages and challenges at different orders throughout the levels of constructive human development. When we practice emotional intelligence, we can become aware of where people are in terms of human development. The challenge is that we don’t always know the truth, and as we start to operate at higher levels of human development, we begin to recognize that more and more. We will never be entirely sure about which order someone is in. We can make assumptions, but we need to remember that we are all continuously changing the way we understand and navigate the world. That’s what makes human development so complex and exciting! Understanding Human Development is critical for Servant leaders because this awareness makes them more adaptive, better able to work in teams, and willing to create a space for all perspectives to be heard and respected. I look forward to expanding my understanding of human development theories as I pursue my professional coaching certificate down the road with the hope that this knowledge will help my clients build a capacity for self-awareness.

It would be foolish for me to believe I am a fifth order individual. I have a lot more developing to do, and I know the more I learn and take time to be mindful, honoring the work of my inner life, the better leader I can be. Graduate school was a transformational experience for me. I am not the same person I was two years ago and for this I am humbled by my privilege to be educated. Now the question is: what will I do with this privilege? I will continue to imagine. I will continue to find ways to make the extraordinary out of the ordinary. I will continue to serve others. I am committed to these intentions because I wish to leave a legacy on the world that makes others smile, makes others joyful, and inspires them to serve others.

Today, I wish to focus my development on learning about others. My “Maximizer” virtue from the StrengthsFinder assessment makes me acutely aware of others’ strengths. I want to continue to tap into that gift and make others more aware of their own strengths. I’m fascinated by human beings. I want to continue to learn about personalities, human development theory, and positive psychology. I also hope to obtain my professional coaching certificate as a way to deepen my knowledge and curiosity about people. I want to immerse myself with this new knowledge and find some way to incorporate it into my everyday life. The truth is, I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I’ve found the most interesting people rarely do. However, what I know is that Graduate school has changed me forever. I will continue to develop and seek to understand my own human development. Continuing the Jesuit tradition of life-long learning is something I’m committed to as I develop as a Servant leader. I’m grateful to have cultivated this wisdom early on and proud to take this wisdom to inspire the development and growth of the people I serve.

Food for Thought:

1. What are your horizontal development goals?
2. Where, in your life, do you see an opportunity for vertical development?
3. What behaviors can you change today to help you better serve others?