{"id":40461,"date":"2025-02-06T12:27:03","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T20:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=40461"},"modified":"2025-02-06T12:33:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T20:33:42","slug":"a-courageous-ascent-in-vertical-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/a-courageous-ascent-in-vertical-development\/","title":{"rendered":"A Courageous Ascent in Vertical Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are all on a journey\u2014a realization that becomes clearer whenever I find myself puzzled by the actions of others. I find this perspective especially valuable in leadership, where the ability to discern both our own path and the journeys of those we lead is essential. Ideally, leaders not only inspire others on a transformational journey but also undergo their own growth in the process. It is a collaborative, holistic endeavor. This journey is one of vertical development\u2014an ascent that I will explore further in this post.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Rethinking Leadership: A Critique of Contemporary Theories<\/em>, Anabel Beerel argues that leaders capable of embracing this kind of journey\u2014those with the courage to undergo true transformation\u2014are all too rare. She writes, \u201cLeading people\u2014which is what leadership is about\u2014is a holistic endeavor. It touches all aspects of what makes us human, our history, culture, psychology, emotional makeup, physical strength, belief systems, and intellectual capabilities.\u201d[1]<\/a> Beerel calls for \u201cleaders who will chart the way, who will provide inspiration and courage, and who will empathize with people\u2019s distresses.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Beerel presents Rethinking Leadership<\/em> at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when it became painfully clear that there was a shortage of truly effective leaders. She asserts, \u201cCrisis always magnifies everything, especially what is ailing.\u201d[3]<\/a> While the pandemic has subsided, its aftermath continues to shape our lives, both personally and societally. In addition, the world remains deeply affected by ongoing conflicts, such as the Ukraine-Russia war, the Israeli-Hamas war, the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, and unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among many others. These crises are ongoing reminders of the profound challenges facing us.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are times of great uncertainty, and Beerel insists that leaders must \u201clearn to be more comfortable with the unknowable and uncontrollable.\u201d[4]<\/a> This takes courage. As she puts it, \u201cCourage is one of the most essential requirements of an effective leader.\u201d[5]<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I read Beerel, I was particularly intrigued by the concept of vertical<\/em> learning[6]<\/a>, a theme that will shape the remainder of this post. I will delve into Beerel\u2019s insights from Rethinking Leadership<\/em> and explore how they intersect with Ryan Gottfredson\u2019s framework of vertical development in The Elevated Leader<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding vertical learning, Beerel references Cook-Greuter\u2019 theory that, \u201cA key contributor to vertical learning claims that human development evolves in a spiral fashion upward.\u201d[7]<\/a> Similarly, Beerel writes, \u201cVertical learning is truly transformative, as it takes the person\u2014and the organization\u2014to a higher stage of being and operating.\u201d[8]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan Gottfredson also addresses vertical development in The Elevated Leader<\/em>, where he introduces the three levels of vertical development: Mind 1.0<\/strong>, Mind 2.0<\/strong>, and Mind 3.0<\/strong>. Each level represents a distinct internal operating system designed to address specific needs and fears. Gottfredson explains, \u201cMost people primarily operate in Mind 1.0, while most executives and leaders primarily operate in Mind 2.0. Reaching Mind 3.0 is necessary for truly effective leadership.\u201d[9]<\/a> He emphasizes the critical importance of understanding your vertical altitude.<\/span><\/p>\n

While I won\u2019t delve deeply into Mind 1.0<\/strong> or Mind 2.0<\/strong>, I will focus on Mind 3.0<\/strong>, also known as Contribution Mode<\/em>. Gottfredson identifies three hallmarks of Mind 3.0:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Emotionally centered and balanced<\/strong> individuals.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Interdependent thinkers<\/strong> who are neither dependent nor independent.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. A<\/strong> long-term orientation<\/strong>, focusing on sustained impact rather than immediate rewards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Despite the significance of Mind 3.0, Gottfredson asserts that very few people operate at this level. He estimates that only 1 percent of adults in general and just 8 percent of executives function at Mind 3.0.[10]<\/a> Anabel Beerel echoes the rarity of vertical learning in adults, asserting that it is a transformative process: \u201c[Vertical development] challenges one to progress to a higher level of cognitive, emotional, and relational complexity, evoking a shift in consciousness and self-understanding.\u201d[11]<\/a><\/span><\/a>This transformation extends beyond personal growth\u2014it reshapes how individuals perceive, engage with, and lead in the world around them.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Gottfredson likens vertical development to climbing a mountain, but when I reflect on this concept, a different image comes to mind\u2014the ancient Israelites ascending to Jerusalem. Their pilgrimage was anything but safe. First-century Jewish historian Josephus writes, \u201cNor was any part of Judea free from war, as bands of robbers lay in wait along the roads, cutting off travelers, whether Jews or foreigners.\u201d[12]<\/a> Yet, despite the danger and uncertainty, countless Israelites pressed on. They climbed because they knew where they were going and why it mattered.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    We are all on a journey, and as leaders, it\u2019s essential to understand where we\u2019re going and why it matters. Beerel draws on Cook-Greuter\u2019s Leadership Maturity Framework, rooted in Jane Loevinger\u2019s ego development theory, explaining, \u201cA key operative component of [Loevinger\u2019s] model lies in what adults see as the purpose of life, what needs they act upon, and what ends they are moving toward.\u201d[13]<\/a> She emphasizes that leaders, especially in times of radical uncertainty, face immense stress. In these challenging times, effective leadership demands not only a clear sense of purpose but also the courage to navigate complex obstacles. It requires a vision that is bigger than ourselves, one that can inspire and guide others through the journey ahead. Let\u2019s go vertical!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

    [1]<\/a> Anabel Beerel, Rethinking Leadership: A Critique of Contemporary Theories<\/em> (New York: Routledge, 2020), 4, Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [2]<\/a> Beerel,\u00a0<\/em>5, Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [3]<\/a> Ibid.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [4]<\/a> Beerel,\u00a014, Kindle Edition<\/span><\/p>\n

    [5]<\/a> Beerel, 6, Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [6]<\/a> Vertical learning is the transformation of how one thinks, feels, and makes sense of the world. It is the development of mental, psychological, and emotional complexity. It creates a new sense of identity and thus a change in ego structure.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [7]<\/a> Beerel,<\/em> 380, Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [8]<\/a> Ibid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    [9]<\/a> Ryan Gottfredson, The Elevated Leader: Level Up Your Leadership Through Vertical Development<\/em> (Morgan James Publishing), 36, Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [10]<\/a> Gottfredson,\u00a0<\/em>83, Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [11]<\/a> Beerel\u00a0379, Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [12]<\/a>Flavius Josephus, The Jewish War<\/em>, trans. William Whiston (London: W. Bowyer, 1737), 4.7.3.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [13]<\/a> Beerel, 379, Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    We are all on a journey\u2014a realization that becomes clearer whenever I find myself puzzled by the actions of others. I find this perspective especially valuable in leadership, where the ability to discern both our own path and the journeys of those we lead is essential. Ideally, leaders not only inspire others on a transformational […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":208,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2977,3011],"class_list":["post-40461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-beerel","tag-dglp03","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/208"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40461"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40468,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40461\/revisions\/40468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}