The Spiral of Career Growth

A Natural Process

The Spiral emerges as a person strives to engage constructively in the workplace. In a natural way, a person discovers that there are markedly different sets of principles (Modes) needed to navigate their career journey.

The values, principles and warnings in each of the Modes accumulate, leading to ever-increasing sophistication as the career process matures. Nothing that has once been a necessary contribution ever loses its importance. Rather, awareness and capabilities developed in the later Stages refine and sharpen the values and strengths of earlier Stages.

ClosedTHEE Reminder 

The Transitions

The process starts in Mode-1 : Stage-1 by Doing a Job Well. This is possible by applying market-centred principles—which remain the basis for earning a living, and the grounding for any business or management career.

There are then two Cycles each of which progressively increases the market-centred intensity:

  • Cycle-1 focuses on the organization rather than oneself, and
  • Cycle-2 focuses on the enterprise around which the organization has been built.

Oscillating Duality: The transitions alternate between being externally (socially)-driven and being internally (psychologically)-driven, as explained in the Cycle review below.

► The transition from Stage-1 ► Stage-2

This move is primarily externally-driven by exploitation and office politics, which brings to the forefront the need to handle people.

In Stage-2, power-centred principles help you to work the system to your advantage.

► The transition from Stage-2 ► Stage-3

This move is primarily internally-driven by the desire for
specialized, fulfilling work.

In Stage-3, cause-centred principles help you to commit
to a meaningful course.

► The transition from Stage-3 ► Stage-4

This move is primarily externally-driven by the pressure to produce satisfactory group results across internal boundaries.

In Stage-4, community-centred principles help you to generate organizational achievements.

► The transition from Stage-4 ► Mode-1 is a spontaneous move back to market-centred values that integrates all previous Modes and creates a viable focus on the organization as a whole.

► The transition from Stage-4 ► Stage-5

This move is primarily internally-driven by your desire for colleagues devoted to you and similarly intensely dedicated to organizational success.

In Stage-5, kinship-centred principles help you to create genuine loyalty to the organization via a Core group.

► The transition from Stage-5 ► Stage-6

This move is primarily externally-driven by persistent major
problems, unexpected failures or serious competitive challenges.

In Stage-6, perspective-centred principles help you to identify
with new and alien approaches.

► The transition from Stage-6 ► Stage-7

This move is primarily internally-driven by the desire to unite people around powerful social forces that can carry the organization to success.

In Stage-7, reality-centred principles help you to master the future.

► The transition from Stage-7 ► Mode-1 is a spontaneous move back to market-centred values that integrates all previous Modes. This creates a viable focus on the core enterprise that is the source of profits for the organization.

Originally posted: July 2009