Training> Courses

 

(Click the graphic to download and run a comprehensive presentation about our SD1 and SD2 training programs.)

              

NVC Consulting offers a range of courses in Spiral Dynamics and the Graves theory. Our introductory courses and workshops give students a taste of this powerful model and its possible applications.

Introductory sessions and presentations
We and our associates offer introductions to Spiral Dynamics in the United States, Australia, Germany and Holland. These sessions range from a few hours to a full day or more. They can be held as freestanding events or offered in conjunction with conferences and conventions. Contact us for more information or to schedule an introductory session for your organization.

SD1 and 2 courses
Our original full-on courses, SD1 and the more advanced SD2, provide for intensive study of the underlying theory and its applications. They are rich in content and application. Both focus on learning and exploring the point of view. SD1 is a four-day program; SD2 is three days.

We’ve designed the courses to provide an accurate foundation in Dr. Graves' underlying theory as well as the SD applications. While variations on Spiral Dynamics are being incorporated by several other organizations, our certification training is intended to provide as "clean" and close-to-the-source rendition of the Graves/Spiral Dynamics point of view as possible. It is our experience that to do so is not a quick-fix process and some time is required to digest this complex material. 

For those who find this work as intriguing and powerful as we do, for those who have had an introduction and sensed the power and need to know more, and especially for those who wish to extend their work from a solid base theoretical base rather than third or fourth hand reinterpretations, Spiral Dynamics certification is a necessary step. To learn more about certification, please click here for the “About Certification"

(While we draw links to many other perspectives, we make no pretense of teaching the work of Ken Wilber or other theorists in depth since it is hard enough to create a solid foundation in the Gravesian perspective in just a few days. Those interested should go elsewhere to learn about those philosophies, preferably to the sources for first-hand information.) 

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Spiral Dynamics Basic, SD 1
The four-day in-depth overview seminar

Spiral Dynamics 1 provides participants with a thorough grounding in Spiral Dynamics and Dr. Clare W. Graves' ECLET model, often called "The Graves" in the NLP world. This course will give you a chance to learn how the model can be applied in real-world settings, to interact with others who have used Spiral Dynamics practically, and to explore its applicability to organization development and human resource aspects through a systems lens. 

For those interested in certification in Spiral Dynamics, SD 1 is the first step in our process. We’ve designed the course to bring both those who are new to this way of thinking and practitioners who already know something about the Gravesian point of view up to speed with current developments in value systems, memetics and evolutionary change theory. 

Participants "live" the levels-of-existence point of view as it is applied to business, personal development, education and a host of other topic areas. The course covers assessment instruments and approaches to determining which vMEMEs are active within individuals and groups. It provides the basics for using the principles of Spiral Dynamics in the field, including introductions to the streams process for organizational design and refinement, as well as the templates model for building organizational intelligences to fit, form, function and flow. In other words, the course helps participants answer the question "How should who manage (or teach or lead, etc.) whom to do what, when?"

Sessions are lively, interactive and fun—but also demanding, thought provoking and intense. Participants will complete a package of self-analysis instruments using both pencil-and-paper and computer technologies. To complete certification, they will be required to demonstrate competency in a follow-up project applying the theory and helping others to understand its implications.

 
   
NVCC's Spiral Dynamics 1

Content modules for certification training (partial list)

Introduction to the ECLET point of view
Differentiating vMEMES from memes  Multiple Intelligences 
  Gardner – AQ - EQ - IQ - VQ - etc.
The E-C theory of Dr. Clare Graves
  The Double-Helix forces
SD ‘languages’ compared to Graves 
 — colors, numbers and letter pairs
Tiers hypothesis
  First tier "subsistence levels"
  Second tier "being levels"
Principles of vMEME detection
Basic (nodal) Levels of Existence
Change and transformation
  Entering, nodal, exiting phases 
  The five change states
  Six conditions for change
  Open, closed and arrested conditions
P-O-A formula for leadership
Assessment Tools (theory and practice)
  Discover
  Values Profile II
  Change State Indicator
Proper and ethical use of instruments
Applications (tailored to group)
  Motivation
  Teaching/Training
  Leadership
  Coaching
  Management
  System Design
  Communications
  OD
  Social and political activism
Meme hunt and skills demonstrations
Self-exploration and case studies
Examination for basic certification
  (optional)


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Spiral Dynamics Intermediate, SD 2
The three-day follow-on seminar

Spiral Dynamics 2 is a more extensive look into the theoretical base of Spiral Dynamics and how to apply it to real-world applications on. Completion of NVCC's Spiral Dynamics 1 is a prerequisite for participating in Spiral Dynamics 2.* 

Spiral Dynamics 2, the second step in the certification process, concentrates on primary source materials and research. We go more in-depth into the seminal work of Dr. Clare W. Graves and the foundations of Spiral Dynamics theory. Chris Cowan, who worked directly with Dr. Graves during the last decade of his life, brings bring a unique perspective to Graves’ elegant research and the powerful ideas it has generated.

Because they have been working full-time with the theory since the early 1980s, applying it in areas ranging from business management and municipal planning to education and social transformation, there is no better source for a clear and accurate understanding of how "the emergent, cyclical, double-helix model of adult bio-psycho-social systems development" can have a positive impact on individual lives and organizational futures.

Spiral Dynamics 2 is for individuals who want to "get behind the scenes" of human emergence and really understand the deep forces that produce trends, waves and strategies. It also provides a venue for discussing specific applications, projects and research initiatives. Because the advanced seminar is designed to expanding background knowledge and share field experiences using the theory, enrollment is limited to those who have successfully completed our Spiral Dynamics 1. Participants must demonstrate applications of Spiral Dynamics theory to real-world problems and issues to complete certification.

Spiral Dynamics 2
Content modules for certification training
(partial list)

History of Dr. Clare W. Grave's research Correlation with other models
  and theories
Dimensions of a Gravesian value
  system
Principles of SD/Graves
Spotting vMeme clusters, vMemes 
  and memes - differentiation
Protocols for the levels
  Transitional energies 
  Systems mixtures and sub-systems
Change (advanced)
  The three potentials for change 
  The six conditions for change
  The variations of change
  Curve of transition phases
Signs of open, closed, arrested
The temperament variables
Dr. Graves’ research approach and
  findings
The Energy of Transition Stations
Explore LC and MC characteristics 
  of 18 sub-systems
The Humpty Dumpty Effect
   Symptoms and solutions
Lifecycles of vMemes
Six principals of vMEME detection
Spiral alignment (The Streams Process)
  Three phases
  10 steps in creating strategy
  The plumb line process
Using P-O-A: the entry formula
  Facilitation and data gathering
Spiral integration across systems
  Leadership
  Management
  Teaching/learning
  Social systems
Applications
  Case studies and discussions
  Participants' cases
  Organizational analysis
Intermediate assessment certification
  VPII and Discover
  Change State Indicator
  (Other tools as appropriate)
Acceptable use guidelines and ethical
  practice
Geopolitical observation and scanning
Levels of psychological existence and
  consciousness
Process participant's pre-work cases
  report/skills demonstration
Examination and certification project
  (optional)

* Please note: Successful completion of our SD1 is a requirement for admission to SD2. We have found that various other offerings presented as Spiral Dynamics, SDi, SD-integral, and other offshoots are not comparable. Because of differences in emphasis and our concentration on Gravesian theory, other introductions generally do not provide sufficient depth to prepare students for our intense Spiral Dynamics Level 2 program. 

We regret any inconvenience this might cause, but have found that participants are consistently glad they fleshed out their knowledge with our SD1 approach and content as the grounding helps them in applications and to get full measure out of SD2 learning.

We sometimes extend our "repeater discount" for SD1 to those who have completed other multi-day introductory courses so they can participate in our SD1, and then join our Spiral Dynamics 2 theory course. Please check with us to determine if your training is eligible for our repeater discount.

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Spiral Dynamics, Advanced  SD 3
The advanced instructors' seminar

Spiral Dynamics 3 will be the "graduate school" of Spiral Dynamics and Gravesian theory. The course will include more about assessment methodologies and pitfalls, training others in use of the theory and explorations of the many parallel models of human development that Graves understood, as well as those which have emerged subsequently. Because this seminar series requires the participation of other expert "Gravesians" as resources and presenters, it can only occur with considerable advanced planning. If you have an interest in a Spiral Dynamics 3 session, please contact us. (Do not be confused by other's so-called SDIII offerings; they are not the same thing and we have not yet presented this course.)

Spiral Dynamics 3 is designed for preparation of authorized Spiral Dynamics trainers who will be able to certify their students at the Spiral Dynamics 1 level—the minimum level required to use assessments or conduct authorized training in spiral dynamics. The training is rigorous, because participants who successfully complete the course will be authorized NVC Consulting trainers in Spiral Dynamics and Dr. Graves' work.

Participation in Spiral Dynamics 3 requires certification in our Spiral Dynamics 1 and 2, a minimum of one year's experience in applying the technology and presentation of a case study above and beyond the requirements of SD2 certification. This case study should apply assessment from the NVC 'warehouse' and demonstrate mastery of Spiral Dynamics and its theoretical underpinnings. Train-the-trainer work and practice instruction will be included.

Students who sign up for Spiral Dynamics 3 will be required to carry out several monthly pre-course assignments with an NVC Consulting mentor. They may select a core competency area for focused, including teambuilding, diversity, human resources, organizational change and transformation, leadership, management, etc. The rigor of the course helps ensure quality of training, mastery of materials and cohesion of theory. Many people are offering their versions of Spiral Dynamics/Graves, but some are also distorting it horribly. This course will prepare a cadre of experts who can accurately present this point of view, act as regional resources and maintain the integrity of the work as it evolves. 


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FOCUSED COURSES

NVC Consulting also offers programs that enable participants to apply the principles of Spiral Dynamics in specific settings and situations.

Spiral Dynamics Corporate Transformation
The Spiral Dynamics Corporate Transformation course, taught by Chris Cowan and Natasha Todorovic, applies Spiral Dynamics theory to practical change and organizational development interventions in the public and private sectors. It addresses issues of assessment as well as methods to structure and implement change. It runs for four days as a freestanding program or for three days as part of a seven-day Spiral Dynamics 1/Spiral Dynamics CT package. Assessments are administered prior to the course.

The hands-on approach begins with a refined awareness of the individual—whether as client or consultant—then shifts focus to explore the dynamics of groups. Corporate Transformation participants look at a range of change methodologies, as well as ways to determining what kind of change is appropriate, how to set strategy and how to move from good ideas to great results. 

The basic frame is Spiral Dynamics, of course, but we introduce a wide range of other tools. Corporate Transformation involves a case-study company that participants research and analyze during the course. They generate recommendations based on assessment data, observations and simulations—taking taking theoretical understanding into real-world application. 

The program requires a minimum of 12 participants. It can be conducted entirely in-house or as an open seminar in which participants other than employees of the host organization are invited to participate. If your company is interested in participating in Spiral Dynamics Corporate Transformation, please contact us.

Leadership Skills for Managers course
We’ve designed the Leadership Skills for Managers course exclusively for managers in business and other organizations who are ready to make the transition from management to leadership.

Through the insights of Spiral Dynamics, we’ll explore what it takes to build dynamic teams, prepare for change, groom fine managers and identify outstanding leaders. You’ll learn how to inspire employees to higher performance, maximize your positive impact, develop more productive working relationships and really understand people's needs.
You'll learn dozens of practical tips, techniques and tactics to help you develop and customize your leadership approach to meet today’s requirements and tomorrow’s challenges. As you learn how to recognize and respond to the seven leadership needs, you’ll be more than a manager, you’ll become a respected and effective leader. Our expert guidance in Spiral Dynamics will enable you to:

  • Discover what makes people "tick"
  • Manage change in a positive, productive way
  • Learn a new language for individual and organizational transformation
  • Coach individuals to achieve their potential
  • Manage conflict so it’s a constructive part of your organization’s culture.
  • Tap your innate leadership potential to motivate high performance
  • Employ the proven empowerment techniques of successful manager-leaders
  • Prepare yourself and your employees for cultural challenges and sensitivities
  • Develop and communicate a vision for the future that will focus employee efforts
  • Effectively introduce changes to your company and get the support you need to implement them
  • Plan for your company's future, spark employee commitment, build hard-working teams and inspire productivity
  • Take on a leadership role that's critical to your company's ability to produce—and survive
  • Build teams that enable members to use all of their skills and knowledge
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