Look for the extraordinary, the simple, delicate extraordinary. But to see, to find it in nature and in other people and in situations, and in organization state, there’s almost always something you can find that is precious, but you have to look.

When I first started studying human development, I encountered Dr. Cook-Greuter’s books and theory of ego development. I was enlightened by her in a way that is difficult to explain. Her work on how we develop as adults is foundational to understanding ourselves and many of the issues we encounter as we navigate the world. 

In this episode, I am honored to talk with the legendary Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter, an international authority on adult and ego development. 

As a realist with decades of experience and study in adult development , she discusses both the lighter and darker sides of humanity. She also provides deep insights into ways we can learn and improve as human beings.

If you are interested in the future of humanity and evolving to be a better human, tune in to this profound talk where Dr. Cook-Greuter and I dive deep into the real challenges we face as humans.

In this episode:

  • Understanding Dr. Cook-Greuter’s theory of ego development
  • Wise advice  for self-mastery
  • The importance of becoming more aware rather than operating on autopilot 
  • Organizational structures that foster good leadership
  • Human nature and the steady demise of our species.
  • Finding joy and serenity in life
  • How you can live a life with more soul
  • And more!

Power Presence Academy: Practical Wisdom for Leaders is the go-to podcast for anyone who leads. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach and advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 100 companies. She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose and learn to lead with Less Ego, More Soul.

 

Noteworthy Quotes from This Episode

In the theory I claim, or I propose, that ego is the fundamental storyteller about life. It always tells a story, no matter what happens. If you ask a person, how did this happen? Who are you? They will tell you a story.”

“What’s always interesting is people feel that when you reach the later stages of ego development , you’ll be happier. You won’t. […] What’s good about that is only that you have more resources. You have developed resources to deal with anguish, with ambiguity, with complexity, with all of those things. It’s not easier.”

“Being an adult is tough. Being a leader is probably even tougher when you’re responsible for other people,  but to work on becoming more aware of your own thoughts, your own ways, you make sense of things and notice your own defenses.”

“​​Rather than running on automatic, which is lots of what we have to do, particularly at work, sometimes we just… you have to get things done. And then it’s easy to get into the trap of automatic behavior and routine. But what’s interesting about that is most people, when they’re in that trap, they actually notice and they’re not happy. It’s not satisfying.”

 

Resource Links: 

Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter is an international authority on adult and ego development. She is the creator of the MAP instrument and its assessment methodology. Dr. Cook-Greuter is an independent scholar known worldwide for her seminal work in adult development theory and is a keynote speaker at conferences internationally. She has charted new territory in defining mature adult development.

You can find Dr. Cook-Greuter’s PhD dissertation that’s still making an impact today here.

Connect with today’s guest on LinkedIn: Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days. Check out my book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple PodcastsSelect “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Linkedin: Janet Ioli

Instagram: @janetioli

Website: janetioli.com

Janet is the founder of Power Presence Academy.  She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose and lead with Less Ego, More Soul.

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Produced by Ideablossoms