The Secret to Great Delegation
Most leaders don’t struggle with delegation because they lack the how. They struggle because, when it’s time to actually let go, something inside them won’t allow it. That’s why delegation workshops are often helpful… and yet disappointing. Leaders learn the right language: “Set clear outcomes.” “Clarify decision rights.” “Agree on checkpoints.” “Coach instead of rescue.” […]
Make Vertical Development More Approachable: A Practical “Acceptance First” Playbook for Coaches + Consultants
Vertical development is one of the most powerful levers we have for helping leaders and people grow—especially in a world defined by complexity, ambiguity, and constant pressure. And yet… it can be a tough sell. Not because the idea isn’t good, but because the experience can feel abstract (“What does this mean?”), academic (“Is this […]
Vertical Development Is a Brain Upgrade: The Gator Brain and the Judge Brain
I’ve been listening to Influence Is Your Superpower by Zoe Chance, and she has got me thinking about vertical development in a different and unique way. And, I think it might impact, change, or elevate the development work that you do individually or with the leaders and people that you work with. To set the […]
The Five Best Business, Leadership, or Self-Help Books I Read in 2025
Every year, to close out the year, I have identified the best books that I read throughout the year. And, turns out, these posts get the most traffic. So, I am back at it again. By the end of the year, I will have read 70 books during 2025. I want to share the top […]
The Five Best Non-Fiction Books I Read in 2025
Every year, to close out the year, I have identified the best books that I read throughout the year. And, turns out, these posts get the most traffic. So, I am back at it again. By the end of the year, I will have read 70 books during 2025. I want to share the top […]
The Four Best Fiction Books I Read in 2025
Every year, to close out the year, I have identified the best books that I read throughout the year. And, turns out, these posts get the most traffic. So, I am back at it again. By the end of the year, I will have read 70 books during 2025. I want to share the top […]
Why Hasn’t Vertical Development Been Widely Adopted?
If you hang around the leadership-development space long enough, you’ll eventually run into the idea of vertical development—the process of upgrading a leader’s internal operating system so they can think, feel, and relate at higher levels of complexity. This isn’t a new idea. For decades, developmental psychologists and leadership scholars have been mapping how adults […]
The Best Gift You Can Give This Season? A Better Version of Yourself
As I think about the upcoming holiday season, I’ve been reflecting not just on the gifts I want to give, but on what really makes a gift meaningful. Of course, I’ll be buying a few things for my wife and kids. But I keep coming back to this idea: What if the most valuable gift […]
When Are You Ripe for Vertical Development Coaching?
Most of us only really know one development path. It’s the one we’ve been on since school: Read the book Take the course Get the certification Add another tool to the toolkit This is horizontal development—gaining more knowledge and skills. It’s like downloading another app onto your iPad. Helpful, sometimes necessary, but it doesn’t change […]
Four Invisible Forces Keeping You Stuck (and How to Bust Through Them)
I am fortunate that I get to consistently work with people who want to become better. They want to elevate their lives, their leaders, and their impact. When I help people to elevate, I consistently observe (and I have felt this personally) that there are forces that are holding people down at their current level. […]
