How to Coach Yourself and Others Techniques For Coaching | Page 233

teachings refl ects similar phases, known as a time to learn, a time to fi
ght and a time to grow wise.
In terms of the model, the dependent phase lasts from conception until
we are able to make our own way in life – usually in our early 20s.
The independent phase arises when, as young adults, we question or
reject the ‘givens’ that we grew up with, strive to formulate our own
ideas and become fi nancially self-suffi cient. This phase can last into
the mid-40s.
The interdependent phase arises when there is a mature recognition
that to achieve life’s full potential we need to cooperate actively with
other people in order to give back something to the world. This phase
often kicks in at middle age, but can arrive much earlier.
Ten phases of individual development
According to Bernard Lievegoed, the three major phases of life can
further be divided into ten phases, each seven years long. The problem
with Lievegoed’s formulation is that while everyone seems to agree on
the existence of the three main phases, the age groups that apply to
these stages may vary from one culture or society to another. For this
reason we have adapted Steiner’s model to make it more flexible,
retaining his suggested ten phases without aligning them to specific age
groups.
DEPENDENCY: From 0 to +- 20 years
1. THE PHASE OF IMITATION
• When a child is born it is completely dependent on its parents for
basic human needs; food, shelter and warmth, as well as the emotional
needs of love and trust.
• Children learn primarily through imitation and role modeling,
therefore play is immensely important at an early age. It allows the
infant an opportunity to mimic and copy the human behavior they see
around them. Mother and father fi gures are the fi rst models for

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