An Everyone Culture

1. DDOs integrate personal growth with business success

We do not think of our culture as a 'contributor' to our business success; we do not think of it as a 'factor.' We think of it as, literally, the cause of our success.

Holistic approach to development. Deliberately Developmental Organizations (DDOs) view personal growth and business success as inherently interconnected. They create an environment where employees are encouraged to work on their weaknesses and limitations as part of their daily work. This approach not only benefits individuals but also drives organizational performance.

Business advantages of DDOs:

• Increased employee engagement and retention
• Enhanced problem-solving and innovation capabilities
• Improved adaptability to changing market conditions
• Stronger leadership pipeline and succession planning

By investing in the personal growth of their employees, DDOs create a workforce that is more capable, resilient, and aligned with the organization's goals. This integration of personal and professional development leads to a more dynamic and successful business model.

2. Three plateaus of adult mental complexity shape organizational behavior

Mental complexity is not about how much you know or how high your IQ is. It is not about developing increasingly abstruse apprehensions of the world, as if "most complex" meant finally being able to understand a physicist's blackboard filled with complex equations.

Stages of mental complexity. The three plateaus of adult mental complexity - socialized mind, self-authoring mind, and self-transforming mind - significantly impact how individuals operate within organizations. Understanding these stages helps DDOs tailor their approaches to employee development and organizational design.

Characteristics of each plateau:

• Socialized mind: Shaped by external expectations and social norms
• Self-authoring mind: Develops an internal compass and personal ideology
• Self-transforming mind: Able to reflect on and revise one's own ideology

DDOs recognize that employees at different stages require different types of support and challenges. By creating an environment that fosters growth through these stages, organizations can unlock greater potential in their workforce and improve overall performance.

3. Edge, Home, and Groove: The three dimensions of a DDO

Culture as strategy

Core components of DDOs. The three dimensions of a DDO - Edge, Home, and Groove - work together to create a cohesive developmental environment. Edge refers to the individual's growth challenges, Home is the supportive community, and Groove encompasses the practices that facilitate development.

Interplay of dimensions:

• Edge: Pushes individuals out of their comfort zones
• Home: Provides psychological safety and support
• Groove: Establishes routines and tools for continuous learning

These dimensions reinforce each other, creating a dynamic ecosystem where personal growth and organizational success are intertwined. By consciously designing and nurturing these aspects, DDOs create a unique culture that drives both individual and collective development.

4. DDO practices foster continuous learning and development

We have become good at getting better because we are so good at failing.

Embedding development in daily work. DDOs implement a range of practices that make personal growth an integral part of everyday work. These practices create opportunities for employees to reflect, receive feedback, and experiment with new behaviors.

Common DDO practices:

• Regular feedback sessions and performance dialogues
• Public sharing of personal improvement goals
• Structured reflection time and learning debriefs
• Rotation of roles and responsibilities
• Peer coaching and mentoring programs

By integrating these practices into the fabric of organizational life, DDOs create an environment where learning is constant and development is seen as a natural part of work. This approach accelerates both individual growth and organizational adaptability.

5. Transparency and feedback are essential in DDOs

Pain + Reflection = Progress

Radical openness. DDOs prioritize transparency and honest feedback as key drivers of personal and organizational growth. They create systems and norms that encourage open communication, even when it's uncomfortable.

Elements of DDO transparency:

• Recording and sharing meetings and conversations
• Public discussion of mistakes and failures
• Openly addressing conflicts and disagreements
• Sharing personal development goals and progress

This level of transparency can be challenging for many individuals, but it creates an environment where trust is high, and learning is accelerated. By embracing discomfort and vulnerability, DDOs unlock greater potential for growth and innovation.

6. DDOs create value by addressing adaptive challenges

There are still many pathways to the top of the mountain of business success, but perhaps companies should ask themselves before they set out, "For my particular business, at this moment in history, will the challenges we face be largely technical ones, or largely adaptive ones?"

Tackling complex problems. DDOs are particularly well-suited to address adaptive challenges - problems that require changes in people's values, beliefs, or behaviors. By focusing on developing individuals' mental complexity, DDOs create a workforce capable of navigating uncertainty and complexity.

Benefits of DDOs in addressing adaptive challenges:

• Enhanced problem-solving capabilities
• Increased organizational agility and resilience
• Improved ability to innovate and disrupt markets
• Better alignment between individual and organizational goals

DDOs' emphasis on personal growth and collective learning enables them to tackle complex, evolving challenges more effectively than traditional organizations. This capability becomes increasingly valuable in today's rapidly changing business environment.

7. The Immunity to Change framework uncovers personal barriers

Only when you see more deeply into how it is—and why it is—you have prevented yourself from making progress can you enter a new space to begin changing.

Overcoming hidden obstacles. The Immunity to Change (ITC) framework is a powerful tool used in DDOs to help individuals identify and overcome their unconscious barriers to change. This process involves uncovering hidden commitments and big assumptions that prevent personal growth.

Steps in the ITC process:

1. Identify improvement goal
2. List behaviors that work against the goal
3. Uncover hidden competing commitments
4. Discover big assumptions
5. Design and run tests to challenge assumptions

By using the ITC framework, DDOs help employees develop greater self-awareness and create targeted strategies for personal growth. This process not only benefits individuals but also contributes to the organization's overall capacity for change and adaptation.

8. DDOs prioritize collective growth over individual performance

In an ordinary organization, most people are doing a second job no one is paying them for. In businesses large and small; in government agencies, schools, and hospitals; in for-profits and nonprofits, and in any country in the world, most people are spending time and energy covering up their weaknesses, managing other people's impressions of them, showing themselves to their best advantage, playing politics, hiding their inadequacies, hiding their uncertainties, hiding their limitations. Hiding.

Shifting focus from individual to collective. DDOs recognize that traditional performance management systems often encourage employees to hide weaknesses and compete with colleagues. Instead, DDOs create an environment where collective growth is valued over individual performance metrics.

Characteristics of DDO performance culture:

• Emphasis on learning and improvement rather than fixed targets
• Encouragement of risk-taking and experimentation
• Recognition for supporting others' development
• Evaluation based on contribution to organizational culture and growth

By prioritizing collective growth, DDOs reduce internal competition and create a more collaborative, innovative environment. This approach leads to stronger overall organizational performance and adaptability.

9. Becoming a DDO requires reshaping organizational culture

There is no way, really, to be a spectator here. You become a participant the second you enter. And welcome!

Transformative change. Becoming a DDO involves a fundamental shift in organizational culture and practices. It requires commitment from leadership and a willingness to challenge deeply held assumptions about work and performance.

Key steps in becoming a DDO:

• Articulate a clear vision for developmental culture
• Align leadership around DDO principles
• Implement new practices and systems to support development
• Create psychological safety for vulnerability and learning
• Continuously refine and adapt the approach

The journey to becoming a DDO is ongoing and requires sustained effort and commitment. However, organizations that successfully make this transition often find they are better equipped to navigate complex challenges and create sustainable success.

Last updated: July 28, 2024