TABLE OF CONTENTS There are three models at the heart of the whole-system approach to cultural transformation: the seven levels of consciousness model, the spiral dynamics model, and a modified version of Ken Wilber s Integral (four-quadrant matrix) model. The seven levels of consciousness model is described in my book, Liberating the Corporate Soul: Building a Visionary Organization. [1 ]The spiral dynamics model is described in Beck and Cowan s Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Leadership and Change. [2 ]The integral model is described in Ken Wilber s A Brief History of Everything. [3 ]My modified version of the integral model is described in Chapter 8 and an overview of the spiral dynamics model is included in Chapter 9. What follows in this chapter, and the next, is a detailed description of the seven levels of consciousness model as it applies to individuals, groups, and organizations.
Seven well-defined stages can be distinguished in the development of personal consciousness. Each stage focuses on a particular existential need that is inherent to the human condition. The seven existential needs are the principle motivating forces in all human affairs. Individuals grow in consciousness by learning to master the satisfaction of these needs. Individuals who learn how to master all seven needs without harming or hurting others operate from full-spectrum consciousness. They have the ability to respond appropriately to all life s challenges. The seven existential needs that constitute the seven stages in the development of personal consciousness are shown in Table 2 1.
