The Integral Approach
Integral Strategy Group uses integral thinking and methodologies in each of our consulting and coaching assignments. Although the essentials of integral thinking have been articulated by many authors, the noted thinker Ken Wilber’s book A Brief History of Everything is most often cited as the seminal work in this area. James Flaherty, founder of New Ventures West, a coach training program, is a leader in applying integral concepts to the field of executive coaching.
In his book Wilber articulated the four quadrant model presented below. At it simplest, the model suggests that all of human activity can be viewed along two dimensions:
The Objective/Subjective Dimension which separates the measurable/ observable from the thoughts, feelings and emotions that cannot be observed or measured.
The Individual/Group Dimension which separates what occurs at the individual level from what occurs at the group or organizational level.
These two dimensions can be portrayed in the “Four Quadrant” Model created by Wilber and others.
In our coaching and consulting work, we use this model to understand our client’s strengths and weaknesses and the dynamics operating in their situation. All interviewing, document review, data collection and client assessment activities use this model to organize our assessment, to evaluate strengths and weakness, and to design recommendations and interventions.
We find that in every situation, clients demonstrate particular strengths and weaknesses in each of the quadrants and in the relationships between the quadrants. We marry our experience in using this model with our deep experience in management and leadership to develop client specific action recommendations.
Those familiar with the full integral model know that it also includes another dimension that relates to the level of individual/group development. Those interested in an explanation of this aspect of the integral model will be interested in Ken Wilber’s writings and the Spiral Dynamics theories of Don Beck. In our coaching and management consulting work we employ a five-level developmental model based upon James Flaherty’s developmental approach. This model is summarized below.
The Four Quadrants
| Subjective | Objective | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Individual Attitudes
|
Individual Attributes
|
 |
Culture
|
System/Process
|
Developmental Model – Levels of Competency
Individual Responsibility
Managing Requests and Commitments
Managing Activities and Roles
Managing Outcomes and Accountabilities
Leading for a Vision
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
“Integral Strategy Group’s four quadrant model is often used as the basis for diagnosing complex relationships and interactions in the organization. The combination of the system and coaching has proven invaluable for our organization and team members.”
