Introduction
As a coach, one of your key roles is to help your clients understand how their personal development is influenced by the community they are part of. The rate at which an individual can ascend the levels of psychological development is often determined by the collective values, beliefs, and world view of their community. This module will guide you through understanding these influences and how to help your clients navigate them effectively.
This is an extract from The Game Plan Practitioner: GOAL SETTING (Part I: Online Certification & Accreditation programme). Currently available to beta test FOR FREE!
Understanding Personal Development and Community Influence
Personal growth follows a structured path through different levels of consciousness:
- Survival Consciousness – Focused on basic needs and security.
- Relationship Consciousness – Seeking love, belonging, and connection.
- Self-Esteem Consciousness – Building confidence and personal success.
- Transformation Consciousness – Developing self-awareness and embracing change.
- Internal Cohesion Consciousness – Aligning with purpose and values.
- Making a Difference Consciousness – Contributing positively to the world.
- Service Consciousness – Acting in service to humanity and the greater good.
- Full-Spectrum Consciousness – Achieving complete integration of all levels.
While an individual may feel naturally drawn towards higher levels of development, their progress is often shaped by the world view of the community they are embedded in.
The Role of Community in Personal Growth
Your community includes multiple layers: parents, family, friends, local neighbourhood, workplace, wider society, nation, political affiliations, and religious groups. Each community holds a particular world view that shapes its collective behaviour and expectations. These world views include:
- Survival World View – Focused on basic needs and security.
- Tribal World View – Group loyalty and tradition dominate.
- Power World View – Strength, dominance, and control are key.
- Authority World View – Hierarchy and structure are respected.
- Status World View – Success and achievement define worth.
- People World View – Relationships and compassion are valued.
- Integrative World View – A balanced, inclusive approach.
- Holistic World View – A deep, interconnected perspective.
When an individual resides in a community with a lower world view than their own level of consciousness, their growth can be stifled, leading to stress, mental exhaustion, and even illness. However, if their community operates at a higher world view, they are more likely to thrive and accelerate their development.
The Need for Coping Strategies and Change
If your client finds themselves in a community that does not support their development, they will need coping mechanisms to manage the disconnect. These might include:
- Seeking like-minded individuals within their existing community.
- Setting firm personal boundaries.
- Finding ways to express their values without causing conflict.
- Engaging in activities that support their personal growth.
However, in some cases, staying in an unsupportive community is not sustainable. If their well-being is at risk, they may need to transition into a new environment that aligns with their values and aspirations. This could involve changing careers, relocating, or seeking new social circles.
The Schwartz Values Wheel as an Assessment Tool
To guide your clients effectively, you can use the Schwartz Values Wheel to assess:
- Where your client currently is in their personal development journey.
- Where they perceive their community to be in terms of consciousness and world view.
Download the Schwartz Values Wheel exercise – on one page.
[More details on the SchwartzPVA can be found here.]
This assessment will help determine whether they are being supported or hindered in their growth and what steps they need to take to align their environment with their aspirations.
As their coach, your role is to accelerate their development by helping them make informed, empowered choices about their community and personal growth. Encouraging clients to seek environments that nurture their full potential is one of the most powerful ways you can support them.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the relationship between personal development and community values is crucial in guiding clients on their journey. By helping them assess their environment, develop coping strategies, and, if necessary, transition to a more supportive space, you are empowering them to reach their highest potential.
Encourage your clients to take this journey courageously, reminding them that growth is a process and that they are not alone. With the right support and mindset, they can move towards a life of greater alignment, purpose, and fulfilment.
Next Steps:
- Use the Schwartz Values Wheel with your clients.
- Help them identify misalignments between their values and their community.
- Support them in developing strategies for change.
By doing so, you are not only assisting them in their journey but also contributing to the broader movement of raising collective consciousness and creating a more enlightened society.
Interactive Exercise: Mapping Values Perception and Alignment
This exercise will help your clients assess where they currently are in their personal development and how their community influences them.
Step 1: Personal Values Reflection
Ask your client to list their top 5 values from the following categories:
- Self-Enhancement: Wealth, power, achievement, success.
- Self-Transcendence: Compassion, social justice, equality, helping others.
- Openness to Change: Creativity, curiosity, independence, freedom.
- Conservation: Security, tradition, conformity, stability.
Discuss why they chose these values and how they influence their decisions and behaviours.
Step 2: Community Values Perception
Now, ask your client to reflect on the values of their immediate and wider communities, using the same categories. This could include their family, workplace, local community, and even their nation.
- Do their personal values align with those of their community?
- Are there any conflicts between their values and the values around them?
Step 3: Identify Supportive and Limiting Factors
Using their responses, identify:
- Communities that support their growth (where values align).
- Communities that hinder their development (where values conflict).
Encourage them to explore how these influences affect their motivation, mental health, and personal growth.
Step 4: Developing a Strategy for Growth
Guide them in creating a plan that includes:
- Ways to engage more with communities that share their values.
- Strategies to manage conflict in less supportive environments.
- Steps to transition into more aligned communities if needed.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the relationship between personal development and community values is crucial in guiding clients on their journey. By helping them assess their environment, develop coping strategies, and, if necessary, transition to a more supportive space, you are empowering them to reach their highest potential.
Encourage your clients to take this journey courageously, reminding them that growth is a process and that they are not alone. With the right support and mindset, they can move towards a life of greater alignment, purpose, and fulfilment.
Next Steps:
- Use the Schwartz Values Wheel with your clients.
- Help them identify misalignments between their values and their community.
- Support them in developing strategies for change.
By doing so, you are not only assisting them in their journey but also contributing to the broader movement of raising collective consciousness and creating a more enlightened society.
Training Module: Understanding the Role of Community in Personal Development Through Values Perception
Introduction: Why Do Perceptions Matter?
Every individual embarks on a journey of psychological development, progressing through different levels of consciousness—from survival to self-transcendence. However, the rate at which you progress is significantly influenced by the values of the community you belong to. Your environment, including your family, friends, workplace, and nation, can either support or hinder your personal growth.
This module explores how the perception of community values influences personal development and civic engagement. We will use the Schwartz Community Values Assessment alongside insights from the Common Cause UK Values Survey (Perceptions Matter) to understand how individuals perceive societal values and how these perceptions shape their participation in the community.
Download Perceptions Matter Study
Section 1: The Role of Community in Psychological Development
Psychological development follows a pathway:
- Survival Consciousness – Meeting basic needs.
- Relationship Consciousness – Seeking connection and belonging.
- Self-Esteem Consciousness – Establishing identity and purpose.
- Transformation Consciousness – Expanding self-awareness.
- Internal Cohesion Consciousness – Developing personal integrity.
- Making a Difference Consciousness – Contributing to society.
- Service Consciousness – Devoting oneself to the greater good.
- Full-Spectrum Consciousness – Achieving holistic awareness.
Your community’s collective worldview—whether focused on survival, tribalism, power, authority, status, people-centred values, integration, or holistic thinking—determines whether your personal growth is nurtured or stifled.
Key Insight: If you find yourself in a community that operates at a lower level of consciousness than your current stage, you may feel restricted, unsafe, or out of place. Finding a supportive environment is crucial for your well-being and growth.
Section 2: The Schwartz Values Wheel & Community Impact
The Schwartz Values Wheel categorises human values into different domains, ranging from self-enhancement (e.g., power, achievement) to self-transcendence (e.g., universalism, benevolence). These values significantly shape community behavior and engagement.
The UK Values Perception Gap
The Common Cause UK Values Survey revealed a major perception gap between what UK citizens believe their fellow citizens value and what they actually value.
- 77% of UK citizens underestimate the importance that others place on compassionate values, such as fairness, justice, and community care.
- Many overestimate the importance others place on selfish values, such as wealth, status, and competition.
- This perception gap discourages civic engagement—people fear being judged for expressing values like social responsibility and environmental concern.
Real-World Example: Many Brits hold compassionate values, yet they assume that others prioritise selfish values. As a result, they hesitate to take civic action (such as voting or volunteering) because they don’t want to stand out or be viewed as “soft” or “idealistic”.
This self-reinforcing cycle of underestimating others’ values leads to reduced participation in community-driven efforts, ultimately impacting social cohesion.
Section 3: The Impact of Values Perception on Well-being & Growth
1. Cultural Estrangement & Psychological Development
The survey found that individuals who perceive their community as less compassionate than they truly are experience higher cultural estrangement—a feeling of being disconnected from society.
- If you believe that most people around you value power and wealth over fairness and kindness, you may:
- Feel isolated or disengaged.
- Avoid expressing your true values.
- Struggle to find alignment with your workplace or social group.
This estrangement can negatively impact mental health and motivation.
2. Civic Participation & Personal Growth
Your perception of community values directly affects your willingness to engage in society.
- Those who believe their fellow citizens prioritise compassionate values are more likely to vote and engage in civic activities.
- Conversely, those who believe society prioritises selfish values are less likely to participate in democratic processes.
Key Takeaway: If you feel disconnected from your community due to a mismatch in values, it is crucial to seek out communities aligned with your stage of psychological development.
Section 4: How Coaches Can Use the Schwartz Values Assessment
As a coach or mentor, assessing both individual and community values can provide a roadmap for guiding personal growth.
Practical Steps:
- Assess Individual Values
- Ask clients to rank their own values using the Schwartz Values Wheel.
- Identify where they currently operate on the psychological development scale.
- Assess Perceived Community Values
- Use the Common Cause UK Values Survey findings as a discussion point.
- Ask:
- “How do you perceive the values of your workplace, social circle, or nation?”
- “Do these align with your personal values?”
- Identify Gaps & Barriers
- If there is a gap between personal and perceived community values, explore its impact on their growth and well-being.
- Develop Coping Strategies
- Help clients build resilience when operating in misaligned communities.
- Support them in finding or building a ‘tribe’ that aligns with their values.
Conclusion: Finding Your Tribe for Growth
Understanding the values of your community and their impact on your growth is essential. If you find yourself in an environment that holds you back:
✅ Seek alignment—Find communities that share and nurture your values.
✅ Challenge misperceptions—Recognize that society may be more compassionate than it seems.
✅ Take action—Engage in civic life, knowing that your participation fosters positive change.
By understanding and applying the Schwartz Values Wheel and the insights from the Perceptions Matter survey, we can accelerate both personal and societal development—creating communities where growth, contribution, and well-being thrive.
Final Thought: As a coach, mentor, or leader, you are not just guiding individuals—you are shaping communities where true values can flourish.
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