The Achiever: Working Hard or Hardly Living?

Stage four of vertical development, the Achiever, is defined by productivity, controlling outcomes, and burnout. Key Takeaways: Achievers identify with the Western culture ideal of working hard, being productive, and improving outcomes Qualities of Achievers include their collaboration skills, drive, and outcome-driven perspective Limitations of Achievers include getting burned out quickly, being emotionally unavailable, and…

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What Does It Really Mean to Be an Expert?

The third stage of vertical development, the Expert, focuses on perfecting skills and being really good in their domain. These are key players for many organizations but face their own limitations. Key Takeaways An Expert is the master of one specific area, and 40% of adults reside in this stage They’re really good in their…

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A Guide to the Early Stages of Vertical Development

Learn the characteristics, advantages and limitations of the two earliest vertical development stages – Opportunist and Conformer – and how they fit into the workplace. Key Takeaways Opportunists are self-focused and know how to get what they want and need Conformers identify with the beliefs and opinions of a group and may not be aware…

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What Are the 7 Stages of Vertical Development?

Vertical development recognizes 7 stages of personal growth that help leaders mentally and emotionally prepare to guide organizations and themselves through an ever more complex world  Key Takeaways: The 7 main stages of vertical development Opportunist Conformer Achiever Expert Redefining Strategist Alchemist The traditional approach to leadership development has been to focus on what people…

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7 Characteristics for More Resilient Leadership

Learning how to be a resilient leader helps us adapt to disruptions that are a part of everyday life. Key Takeaways: Three levels of change: Small changes, which can be addressed within minutes or hours Medium changes, which take weeks or a few months Large changes, which are paradigm-shifting life disruptions Resilience allows us to…

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If Your Business Wants to Develop Better Leaders, It Needs Vertical Development

The world is increasingly volatile and complex. Businesses need leaders who can think through complex situations and find innovative solutions. Enter vertical development. Key Takeaways: Vertical development focuses on how employees think more than what they know As leaders rise through the ranks, how they think becomes more important to business success than what they…

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What to Expect in Your Coaching Experience

It’s an exciting time! You or someone in your organization is finally getting started with coaching. Naturally, you probably have a lot of questions on what the next steps will entail. In this blog, I outline a typical coach-client experience, so you’ll know what exactly what to expect. Building the Foundation Your first few sessions…

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Identifying the Best Coach for You or Your Team

Wow, we’ve covered a lot of ground this series of articles! So far, we’ve talked about what coaching is, demystifying the coaching experience, and the distinctions in coaching. At this point you might be thinking, “Enough already! You’ve sold me on coaching. How do I get myself, my team, or my organization started?” There are…

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Distinctions of Coaching

Welcome back to my blog series on coaching. So far, I’ve described what coaching is, what the work of coaching entails, and what actually happens during an engagement. In this article, I’ll dive into some of the distinctions about coaching that make it such a unique method for development. As a way of kicking off…

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Demystifying the Coaching Experience   

What exactly is coaching? It’s a tough thing to explain – one of those things you can only truly appreciate after you’ve experienced it. But if you’re considering coaching for the first time, how can you get an idea of what you’re signing up for to help decide if it’s right for you? After wrestling…

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