The Key to Navigating Complexity
Most leaders respond to rising demands in the same way: They drive harder. More urgency. More control. More speed. More pressure. More meetings. More follow-ups. More “we need this by end of day.” And to be fair—it often works in the short term. You can get results by pushing. You can create momentum by accelerating. […]
What Leaders Need Now: Capacity for Complexity
For decades, leadership development has largely focused on abilities—skills, competencies, and best practices. And those still matter. But the landscape of leadership has changed. Today, abilities are table stakes. What separates effective leaders from overwhelmed leaders isn’t what they know or can do—it’s their capacity. Specifically, the capacity to step into complexity and navigate it […]
How Does Your Organization Define “Heart?” Here’s Why It Matters
You’ve probably seen this. One leader says, “We need more heart around here,” and means more compassion.Another leader hears it and thinks, We need more grit and ownership.A third nods along, thinking about purpose and long-term value. Same word. Three definitions. And they’re not small differences—they shape your culture. I’ve learned that leaders operating at […]
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 […]
