Simon P Walker

In 1998 Simon began working on a theory of personality and human interaction which he called Personal Ecology. Since then, this theory has developed and been expanded in multiple dimensions- it now incorporates models of team, leadership, learning, coaching, organisations and society and is known as Human Ecology theory. 

Alongside Personal Ecology as a theory, he has developed a range of psychometric instruments as online tools to provide analysis and diagnosis. These include The Personal Ecology Profile, Undefended Leader Profile, Leadership Signature Profile, Coaching Signature Profile, Learning Signature Profile, Teaching Signature Profile.

In addition, he has developed a specific approach to therapeutic intervention which coheres with the intellectual underpinnings of Personal Ecology. This approach involves:
1. A specific coaching approach
2. Visual Landscaping- a kind of metaphor therapy
3. Sculpturing- a kind of group therapy

The timeline below shows the stages of development of the theory:

1993Degree in Biological Sciences at Oxford allows opportunity for research into ecology, animal behaviour and the history of science.Influenced by Steven Jay Gould as evolutionary theorist contra the neo-Darwinian schools led by Oxford-based Richard Dawkins.Emphasis on epistastic rather than genetic causes of biological diversity.I see biological change increasingly as a series of stases followed by rapid change (Puncuated Equilibrium). Such a version of history mirrored by the way that other human systems changed over time. I am influenced by Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions in which knowledge is seen as paradigmatic.I see human systems as determined as much by forces of resistance and suppression to maintain the prevailing system, as change and evolution.

1995
First extended 20,000 word essay written on relational nature of truth at Oxford whilst at Wycliffe Hall studying degree in Theology.

1996
Theories of ontology and epistemology developed as a form of post-critical realism. Two papers published on the nature of knowing through participation; influenced especially by Ricouer, Gadamer, Polanyi and Derrida.
Theory of ethics and human flourishing developed to articulate a goal of human development.
Paper on langauge and philosophical important of metaphor as a way of speaking and knowing developed. Soskice, Ricouer, MacFague, Gunton inter al. influential.

1997
More thorough trinitarian theology articulated. This offers a source of grounding for the theories of knowing and being being developed along emergent, narrative and relational lines. Key influences are LaCugna, Torrance (A), Zizoulas, MacFadyen, Gunton, Newbiggin, Buber.

1998
Ordination offers opportunity to explore educative and prayer processes in the context of pastoral ministry.
MTh in Applied Theology begun part time with focus on social psychology. (The Oxford MTh is an MPhil level degree that sits between an MA and DPhil)
Influenced strongly by Paul Fiddes, then Principal of Regents Park College Oxford who articulates a convincing version of panentheism in Participating in God.

1999
Interest in depicting the self in primarily concrete, narrative terms rather than conceptual abstract terms.
Theory of self as 'personal landscape' first explored in paper for MTh at Oxford as first 'go' at articulating self as narrative.
Visual Landscaping first developed and used in group work in Oxford as a partner process to the model.

2000
On leaving Parish ministry, I begin developing a coherent model of Personal Ecology. I describe this in my Thesis for MTh involving a 7 trait constructionist account of behaviour
16 Personality Patterns first described and tested with a population sample
First version of Personal Ecology Profile developed as paper based tool using a projective test methodology based on the notion of a personal landscape.

2001
Human Ecology Ltd formed on January 1 2001 as a vehicle for commercialising the model of Personal Ecology. Personal Ecology Profile (PEP) developed as online tool
First PEP reports developed to offer accounts of individual trait behaviours
Second generation PEP reports developed with accounts of 16 Personality Patterns
Extroversion-introversion language discarded in favour of new language of Front stage and Back stage. PE seen as a dynamic model of personality, in which individuals develop a unique psychdrama to both present and conceal themselves from the world. Balance and energy acquisition (key Jungian parameters) rejected in favour of the view that the dominant experience that drives human behaviour is that of reinforcing a sense of self identity.
PEP re-written to describe new dimensions being assessed.
MTh thesis explores the relationship between self and the other. Theological underpinnings to PEP made explicit in thesis.
MTh awarded at Oxford and thesis recommended for extension to DPhil level

2002
PEP monitor instrument developed with SMART award funding, to assess how individuals develop and change their profiles over time
PEP monitor tested with a crew racing in the Global Clipper Race. Results published.
Article in People Management on PEP is published
Meredith Belbin offers commendation of PEP
PEP reports refined to include new graphic models and diagrams of an individual's strategy
Personal Ecology is refined as theory: personality is rejected as fixed entity in favour of an emergent strategy deployed by an individual and embedded over time to become habitual.
Key relationship between PE, attachment theory and ego formation consolidated.
New research on the neuropsychology of emotion, and in particular fear, reinforce the PE conviction that fear and the need for safety is the dominant emotional driver in self-formation.
PEP first used as tool in corporate team and 1:1 coaching at Astra Zeneca
PEP used as basis for coaching contracts at London Underground and YMCA.
Decision not to develop thesis to DPhil level at this time taken

2003
Variants of PEP developed to assess patterns of relationship- PEP power and PEP relationality.
Projective landscaping process of online PEP profile seen as inceasingly powerful and versatile. Experiments in which individuals explore encounters with others in their landscapes demonstrate the potential for the PEP to simulate responses to multiple different human interactions.
Funding awarded from second SMART grant to develop the PEP Arena and Construct to fulfil this psychological potential. PEP Arena developed.
Visual Landscaping (VL) used increasingly as a group and 1:1 coaching therapy. VL also explored as a process of prayer in which some experience of the divine is explored within an individual's landscape.
VL developed further in the light of David Grove's work on metaphor therapy. VL seen as a powerful way of generating a safe client- held metaphor. VL also seen to offer ways for clients to re-model their landscape as a mechanism of therapeutic change.
VL as a therapeutic process and the PEP report seen as powerful dialogue partners in the coaching process. PEP and VL together enable individuals to work at both the conceptual and symbolic (or pre-verbal) levels. Strong support for this new coaching process from clients.
First PEP training and accreditation course for professional pracitioners held in Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. Five people trained.
PEP based coaching delivered in Strategic Rail Authority and other commercial clients.

2004
Realisation that Personal Ecology has potential to extend to become a model of Social Ecology.
PEP Construct developed as online tool to profile entire organisations.
Wycliffe Hall

2005
First Leadership Formation courses run in Oxford
Establishment of The Leadership Community

2006
Subversive Leadership written
Subversive Leadership language increasingly dropped in favour of Undefended Leadership

2007
Becoming undefended seen as central psycho-spiritual trajectory of human flourishing.
The Undefended Leader trilogy
4 Stages of Growth
Leading out of Who You Are published
social ecology

2008
Social ecology theory
Dynamics of social cycles
From Inspiration to Production cycle
Stages of Life

2009
Wave forms vs Helices in social dynamics