IDI Academy

Development of social skills

IDI Academy, grounded in the principles of reductionism, offers a personalised development journey by utilizing micro-courses focused on action science, developmental, cognitive, social and behavioral psychology, integrated with IDI Profile. This innovative approach nurtures social intelligence in workplace by breaking down complex concepts into simpler, more understandable components.

Personalized learning

The integration between IDI Profile and IDI Academy enables personalized learning experiences. Individuals can understand their unique interpersonal dynamics as perceived by others—across the dimensions of Directiveness, Affiliation, and Adaptability in relation to a number of different subjects —and tailor their development efforts accordingly.

Focus on systematic errors

IDI Academy is based, among other things, in the recognition of fundamental systematic errors in human thinking and interaction, addressing these through a structured and context-driven approach. It leverages the insights provided by the IDI Profile, making these errors not only more identifiable but also directly applicable to an individual’s personal and professional development.

IDI Academy’s curriculum is designed to transform these insights into actionable knowledge, enabling individuals to understand and navigate the complexities of interpersonal dynamics effectively.

Module 1: Awareness

The Awareness module focuses on laying the foundational knowledge necessary for all social interactions. Users learn about the intricacies of the mind, including mindset and intentions, which are critical for understanding oneself and others.

This module aims to enable individuals to recognize their own patterns of thinking and behavior as well as those of their colleagues, and highlight the systematic errors in thinking that can undermine effective social interaction. It delves into the complexities of the mind and the pervasive impact of cognitive biases and how these systematic errors influence perceptions, decisions, and interactions within the workplace.

By dissecting the roots of these cognitive biases, the module equips individuals with the knowledge to recognize and mitigate their impact on interpersonal dynamics.

Module 2: Actions

In the Actions module, the focus shifts to the practical implications of one’s behavior in the workplace. Users learn about the impact of their actions, the outcomes they lead to, and the behavioral adjustments we do to achieve the desired outcome.

Actions module also emphasizes the contradiction between how we tend to see ourselves primarily in the light of our intentions, which are invisible to others, while we see others mainly in the light of their actions, which are all that’s visible to us. This critical exploration addresses the inherent bias in attributing our behaviors to situational factors while attributing others’ behaviors to their character.

By confronting this discrepancy, the module encourages Individuals to adopt a more balanced and empathetic approach to evaluating workplace dynamics and to critically assess their behavior and its repercussions.

Module 3: Change

The Change module delves into the processes and mindsets required to initiate and sustain meaningful personal and organizational transformation. It explores what necessitates change, what enables it, and what ultimately drives it, emphasizing the importance of reflection and perspective-shifting.

Users are equipped with the tools to critically evaluate existing norms and practices, identify areas for growth, and implement strategies for change. This includes learning to embrace ambiguity, adapt to new circumstances, and overcome resistance to change.

By fostering an environment that values continuous learning and adaptability, IDI Academy aims to cultivate individuals who are not only resilient in the face of change but also agents of change within their organizations.

How it works

Once you have received your IDI Profile, your journey continues in IDI Academy. Completing a course in IDI Academy takes 5-10min:

1. Select a Module and Category to start with.
2. Choose a micro course to study.
3. Read through all parts and answer the Quiz.
4. Congratulations! You have taken the first step.
5. Continue with a new course in the same category.
6. Or choose to continue in a new category/module.

At its core, IDI Academy aims to make the abstract and often overlooked aspects of social intelligence tangible and relevant.

Below, we outline some of the topics in IDI Academy

Theory of mind

Theory of Mind is the branch of cognitive science that investigates how we ascribe mental states to ourselves and others and how we use the states to explain and predict the actions of other people, serving as one of the foundational elements for social interaction.

Consciousness

Consciousness, at its simplest, is sentience and awareness of internal and external existence. We can think and act beyond instinctual drives and conditioning. We can be autonomous. While this autonomy is a possibility, it is not given. We must develop it through conscious choices.

Growth mindset

A growth mindset is a belief that a person's abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved through effort, learning, and experience. People with a growth mindset see challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than as failures.

Fixed mindset

A fixed mindset is a belief that a person's abilities and intelligence are set and cannot be changed. People with a fixed mindset see their abilities as fixed traits that cannot be changed, and they often avoid challenges and new experiences because they believe that they will not be able to succeed at them.

Reflective practice

Reflective practice is the ability to reflect on one's actions so as to take a critical stance or attitude towards one's own practice and that of one's peers, engaging in a process of continuous adaptation and learning.

Perspective-taking

Our daily life is full of small, seemingly insignificant, interpersonal interactions. These small interactions have an especially strong impact in the workplace when working with internal and external stakeholders in different contexts.

Functional roles and norms

There are many ways that people can influence our behavior, but perhaps one of the most important is that the presence of others seems to set up expectations. We do not expect people to behave randomly but to behave in certain ways in particular situations.

Hidden bias

Hidden biases refer to unconscious or implicit biases that a person may hold. These biases are not necessarily intentional or malicious, but they can still have a significant impact on decision-making and behavior. Examples of hidden biases include stereotypes, prejudices, and assumptions that people may hold without being aware of them.