Introducing the Inner Development Goals (IDGs)

The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are a transformative framework designed to equip individuals and organizations with the emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal skills needed to drive meaningful change. It is a shared narrative for the inner development skills that people need to learn in order to contribute to global sustainability and address complex challenges like those outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Simply put, the IDGs help you thrive while tackling the world’s biggest issues.

So, what are the 5 Dimensions and 23 competences of the IDGs?

Image 1: The IDG framework

🌿 Being: Relating to Self-Awareness and Presence

Cultivating our inner life and developing and deepening our relationship to our thoughts, feelings and body help us be present, intentional and non-reactive when we face complexity.

Skills: Inner Compass, Integrity & Authenticity, Openness & Learning Mindset, Self-Awareness, Presence.

🧠 Thinking: Cognitive Skills for Complex Problem-Solving

Developing our cognitive skills by taking different perspectives, evaluating information and making sense of the world as an interconnected whole, is essential for wise decision-making.

Skills: Critical Thinking, Complexity Awareness, Perspective Skills, Sense-making, Long-term Orientation & Visioning.

🤝 Relating: Social and Interpersonal Skills

Appreciating, caring for and feeling connected to others, such as neighbours, future generations or the biosphere, helps us create more just and sustainable systems and societies for everyone.

Skills: Appreciation, Connectedness, Humility, Empathy & Compassion.

🌍 Collaborating: Driving Collective Action

To make progress on shared concerns, we need to develop our abilities to include, hold space and communicate with stakeholders with different values, skills and competencies.

Skills: Communication Skills, Co-Creation Skills, Inclusive Mindset & Intercultural Competence, Trust, Mobilisation Skills.

🚀 Acting: Transforming Growth into Action

Qualities such as courage and optimism help us acquire true agency, break old patterns, generate original ideas and act with persistence in uncertain times.

Examples: Courage, Creativity, Optimism, Perseverance.

Connecting IDGs to the SDGs

The Inner Development Goals complement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by focusing on the human element of change. While the SDGs tackle global issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change, the IDGs equip individuals with the inner skills to address these challenges effectively. Together, they form a powerful synergy—building both the capacity for change and the systems to make it happen. For more, watch IDG video here.

How Does Rflect Use the IDGs?

At Rflect, we integrate the IDG framework into our tools to help students practice and develop these critical skills. Our self-assessments already cover a range of IDG capabilities, and we’re committed to expanding this list as new academic research emerges. Furthermore, with an expansive library of guided reflection questions and practical exercises, we make the IDGs accessible, actionable, and impactful for student users.

Imprint

This blog was written by Ella from the Rflect team. Have questions? Get in touch: info@rflect.ch