Solving big challenges
requires a big mind.

Developing leaders “vertically” is the key.

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We live in a VUCA world – volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.

Our challenges are big. As Robert Kegan, Harvard professor says, “80% of our leaders are in over their heads.” The complexity of their world is beyond the development of their perspective to solve its challenges.

Most leaders cannot fully see, interpret or process the magnitude of dynamics at play. Their conventional mindsets preclude the possibility of breakthrough. 

In our work, we open leaders’ minds and expand their perspective so they can effectively meet the challenges of our complex 21st Century world.

Vertical Leadership Development is the cutting edge of executive development.

Traditional executive development delivers horizontal learning: it provides new knowledge, skills and methods, all within the existing conventional paradigm or worldview.

Vertical Leadership Development is about expanding worldviews and raising leaders’ consciousness to higher levels or “stages of development.” It expands their perspective to see and include more of the dynamics at play, catalyzing new aha’s, insights and solutions. 

Vertical development opens new possibilities for transformation and breakthrough. With a bigger mind, leaders can take on bigger challenges.

We've been pioneering Vertical Leadership Development for nearly 40 years.

“We can’t solve our problems from the same level of consciousness that created them.”

– Albert Einstein

Vertical Leader Development is like climbing a ladder or mountain peak and seeing from a higher place. The next, more advanced stage of development provides a larger, more holistic perspective, a more inclusive line of sight to the dynamics at play.

Einstein’s brilliance was that he knew and pursued expanded perspectives.

Click Image and scroll down

Scroll down

Scroll down

We live in a VUCA world – volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.

Our challenges are big. As Robert Kegan, Harvard professor says, “80% of our leaders are in over their heads.” The complexity of their world is beyond the development of their perspective to solve its challenges.

Most leaders cannot fully see, interpret or process the magnitude of dynamics at play. Their conventional mindsets preclude the possibility of breakthrough. 

In our work, we open leaders’ minds and expand their perspective so they can effectively meet the challenges of our complex 21st Century world.

Vertical Leadership Development is the cutting edge of executive development.

Traditional executive development delivers horizontal learning: it provides new knowledge, skills and methods, all within the existing conventional paradigm or worldview.

Vertical Leadership Development is about expanding worldviews and raising leaders’ consciousness to higher levels or “stages of development.” It expands their perspective to see and include more of the dynamics at play, catalyzing new aha’s, insights and solutions. 

Vertical development opens new possibilities for transformation and breakthrough. With a bigger mind, leaders can take on bigger challenges.

We've been pioneering Vertical Leadership Development for nearly 40 years.

“We can’t solve our problems from the same level of consciousness that created them.”

– Albert Einstein

Vertical Leader Development is like climbing a ladder or mountain peak and seeing from a higher place. The next, more advanced stage of development provides a larger, more holistic perspective, a more inclusive line of sight to the dynamics at play.

Einstein’s brilliance was that he knew and pursued expanded perspectives.

We live in a VUCA world – volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.

Our challenges are big. As Robert Kegan, Harvard professor says, “80% of our leaders are in over their heads.” The complexity of their world is beyond the development of their perspective to solve its challenges.

Most leaders cannot fully see, interpret or process the magnitude of dynamics at play. Their conventional mindsets preclude the possibility of breakthrough. 

In our work, we open leaders’ minds and expand their perspective so they can effectively meet the challenges of our complex 21st Century world.

Vertical Leadership Development is the cutting edge of executive development.

Traditional executive development delivers horizontal learning: it provides new knowledge, skills and methods, all within the existing conventional paradigm or worldview.

Vertical Leadership Development is about expanding worldviews and raising leaders’ consciousness to higher levels or “stages of development.” It expands their perspective to see and include more of the dynamics at play, catalyzing new aha’s, insights and solutions. 

Vertical development opens new possibilities for transformation and breakthrough. With a bigger mind, leaders can take on bigger challenges.

We've been pioneering Vertical Leadership Development for nearly 40 years.

“We can’t solve our problems from the same level of consciousness that created them.”

– Albert Einstein

Vertical Leader Development is like climbing a ladder or mountain peak and seeing from a higher place. The next, more advanced stage of development provides a larger, more holistic perspective, a more inclusive line of sight to the dynamics at play.

Einstein’s brilliance was that he knew and pursued expanded perspectives.



The Stages of Vertical Development

The graphic below depicts the levels of Vertical Leadership Development.
As leaders develop vertically they expand their perspective. 

Most leaders operate with an Achiever perspective. Research shows that transformation requires, minimally, the Strategist level. Achieving Breakthrough requires an Alchemist perspective. 

THE 4 SIGHTS
Four fundamental positive changes occur as leaders develop vertically through these stages. We call these more advanced perspectives, or ways of “seeing,” the 4 Sights.
The higher a leader’s stage of development, the more they possess these capabilities.

Seeing
SYSTEMS

Broadening perspective
across space

Seeing Systems

This Sight increases leaders’ ability to see relationships between parts and wholes, their influences on each other, their inter-dependencies and connections across boundaries. They see distant impacts of local actions and the more complex dynamics across levels of scale (e.g., department, organization, market, national, world).

Seeing
PROCESS

Broadening perspective
across time

Seeing Process

With this Sight, leaders become able to see further into the future, perceiving delayed impacts and inter-dependencies of past and future events. They see the best sequence of action to produce optimal results. They learn to course correct and navigate complex, non-linear and emergent processes.

Seeing Internal & External
REALITIES

Deepening perspective
within

Seeing Internal/External Realities

Individually, internal reality refers to mindset, and collectively, to culture. External reality refers to behavior, action, systems, and results. Both are always at play and reflect and influence each other. Most leaders do not see this. They get blindsided by the cause and effect impacts between the two. This Sight develops their ability to see and navigate this interplay.

Seeing
CONSCIOUSLY

Getting perspective
on your perspective

Seeing Consciously

Most leaders operate 24/7/365 from within their perspective. This Sight elevates their self-awareness to become mindful of what is occurring in their interior. They learn to see the assumptions they are making and the underlying beliefs that otherwise would unconsciously generate their conclusions, decisions and action. This gives them choice, the ability to entertain other perspectives and the powerful ability to step outside habitual thinking to see new possibilities.



Which of these benefits of vertical development will most help your leaders?

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Tony Earley
"Most positive impact on my leadership and personal life...”
"This approach has had the most positive impact on my leadership and personal life than any other in my entire career."
Tony Earley
Former CEO
DTE Energy & Pacific Gas and Electric
Hazel Gachunga
"This isn't ordinary leadership development. It's clear how a leader can make a difference..."
"Being First does not provide ordinary leadership development. They make it very clear which areas leaders need to develop in order for them to make a difference in their organizations for all changes. Their tools and approach have helped me to help other leaders also become the change they want to see."
Hazel Gachunga
Professor, Jomo Kenyatta University
College of HR Development, Kenya
Farrokh 2 copy 2
"I learned leaders must change themselves to breakthrough...”
"I learned how leaders need to have a change in themselves if they want to have a breakthrough in their company. "
Farrokh Khalili
Chairman & CEO
Canadian Bearings, Ltd.
Valgerður-Hrund-Skúladóttir
"Being First is beyond just being a company... They have changed my brain somehow...”
Being First is beyond just being a company. They are a totally different force. Their leaders have profound insights into people and massive experience on all kinds of large projects. Besides - they have changed my brain somehow, I don't know how, but that's what they've done!
Valgerdur Hrund
CEO
Sensa, Iceland
Vicente Trius
"The impact on our organization was enormous...”
“The impact this approach had on our organization was enormous. It was instrumental in developing our high-performing executive team."
Vicente Trius
President
Loblaws
Faith Ralston
“Being First guides leaders safely through the turbulence of leading change..."
“Being First guides leaders safely through the turbulence of leading change, helping them mitigate the transformational dangers of overwhelm, chaos and uncertainty. Whether you are launching new products, restructuring, cutting costs or growing, you’ll learn how to take effective action with confidence.”
Faith Ralston
President
Faith Ralston and Company
RELEVANT RESOURCE

WEBINAR Vertical Leadership Development: The Answer to Today's Organizational and Social Challenges

Vertical Leadership Development is critical for solving today’s organizational and social challenges. This webinar explores the different stages of development and how this approach provides leaders with the skills to:

Instructor: Dr. Dean Anderson

Download Presentation

Ready to develop your leaders vertically?

Let’s discuss how this approach can help you and your leaders solve your most complex challenges.

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