Inner Development Goals

I help organizations understand the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) and integrate inner development practices into their work.

Silhouette of person meditating with glowing heart against starry galaxy background.

What are the IDGs?

The Inner Development Goals are a non-profit, open-source initiative committed to fostering inner development towards more sustainable futures.

The IDGs are designed to complement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed by the United Nations in 2015. The SDGs are a collection of 17 international development goals to be achieved through collective action by 2030 (learn more about the SDGs here). When it became clear that progress was not moving fast enough, a group of international thought leaders from the fields of adult development and leadership gathered together to explore what could be done. The result was this complementary initiative that brings a clear focus to the inner capacities individuals must cultivate to effectively achieve the outer-world impact we need to make happen in the years ahead.

5 Dimensions,
23 Skills

Here’s the IDG framework in it’s current form:

Diagram of Inner Development Goals with five categories: 1. Being - Relationship to Self (Inner Compass, Integrity, Openness, Self-awareness, Presence); 2. Thinking - Cognitive Skills (Critical Thinking, Complexity Awareness, Perspective, Sense-making, Visioning); 3. Relating - Caring for Others (Appreciation, Connectedness, Humility, Empathy); 4. Collaborating - Social Skills (Communication, Co-creation, Inclusivity, Trust, Mobilization); 5. Acting - Enabling Change (Courage, Creativity, Optimism, Perseverance).

The IDG’s are still a work in progress; a global research initiative is currently underway, and the plan is to release an updated a finalized version of this framework in 2025. Any updated version will surely retain much of this thinking, and organizations are invited to engage with this work even as it continues to evolve.

Visit the IDG Website

Offerings

Here’s what I offer to organizations seeking to learn about the IDGs and bring a deeper focus on inner development to their work.

  • I provide trainings that introduce organizations to the details of the IDG framework, the history and future development of this initiative, and guidance on how organizations can get involved in this global movement to integrate a deeper focus on inner development into organizational life.

  • I offer trainings and workshops that cultivate specific skills related to each of the five dimensions in the IDG framework. From strengthening your inner compass to developing complexity awareness to cultivating humility, trust, and courage, I can help your organization build the IDG skills in your people in powerful and effective ways.

  • Integrating a focus on inner development with skill and excellence is not a simple technical task for organizations. This work inevitably challenges some existing assumptions, requires new organizational skills and capacities, and generates questions and resistance from some staff. I provide organizational consulting to guide organizations through the change process of integrating a focus on inner development into existing organizational practices.

  • I'm the host of the podcast "IDG Revolution". The podcast provides an overview of the framework and lifts up the voices and insights of the remarkable community of thought leaders and changemakers moving this initiative forward. Learn more on the "Podcast" page of my website.

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