We Each Have an Ego Driver

Through my learning about vertical development and my own vertical development journey, I have come to see, learn, and appreciate that everyone has an “Ego Driver,” sometimes referred to as our “shadow self.” In this article, I want to share some things that I have learned about our Ego Driver. In the next article, I […]
The Breadth and Depth of Vertical Development Efforts and Activities

Over the last two weeks, I have been asked one question at least three times. This question has followed my disclosure that I have been working with a therapist for two years as a part of my vertical development efforts. The question is, “How do you take someone from zero (almost a skepticism of therapy […]
The Four Practices Necessary for Vertical Development

What is Vertical Development? Vertical development is the process of upgrading our own internal operating system so that we operate in more cognitively and emotionally sophisticated ways. It is the process by which we become better. Vertical development is necessary for the improvement of the following characteristics, which I believe we should all aspire to: […]
Boards of Directors: Consider THIS Before You Select Your Next CEO

When you look at any organization that has radically transformed for elevated success, at the core, you will find the implant of a vertically developed leader.
Heat Experience: A Necessary Prerequisite to Vertical Development

Heat experiences are events or situations that cause one to question their current mental models and ways of thinking.
The Most Common Executive Struggles – Part 4

Let’s look at vulnerability through the lens of vertical development and how we “make meaning” of vulnerability.
Most Common Executive Struggles – Part 3

Research on vertical development has found that people can operate with different internal operating systems that vary in their cognitive and emotional sophistication.
Recommendations for Bottom-Up Vertical Development Efforts

While we can engage in bottom-up efforts on our own, we will generally not get the full healing value from it without guidance and facilitation of a trained therapist.
Elevating Your Center of Gravity – How to Widen Your Window of Tolerance and Re-Center Yourself

Vertical development is a form of development that is focused on improving our internal operating such that we make meaning of our world in more cognitively and emotionally sophisticated ways.
What is Vertical Development?

Vertical development is new to the leadership and personal development space, but research on vertical development has been around for over 50 years in the field of developmental psychology.