Beyond Skills: The Power of Vertical Development in Transformative Growth

Blog | workplace happiness

August 12, 2024

Joost post
workplace happiness

Welcome to the latest installment of our series on fostering growth and excellence in the workplace, where Joost Drieman, a certified coach and business advisor, explores strategies to thrive in today's digital age. In this episode, we delve into vertical development—a crucial tool for navigating complexities and achieving profound growth, especially in the era of remote work and fast-paced careers.

Why Vertical Development Matters

In the realm of personal and professional growth, two distinct types of development often come into play: horizontal and vertical development. While horizontal development focuses on expanding skills and knowledge, vertical development goes deeper, transforming our mindset and way of thinking. This becomes increasingly vital in a digital landscape where information is abundant yet often superficial, and careers demand not just technical skills but also profound knowledge and adaptive thinking.

Vertical development is about evolving one's thinking capacity, maturity, and consciousness to navigate complexities effectively, make better decisions, and foster resilience. Unlike horizontal development, which adds new skills within existing frameworks, vertical development reshapes the very foundation of how individuals perceive and interact with their professional environment.

Three Examples of Vertical Development

To illustrate how vertical development manifests in real-life scenarios, consider these examples:

Operations Manager: Initially focused on daily tasks (horizontal development), an operations manager undergoes vertical development to understand and influence broader business strategies and long-term goals. This shift from tactical to strategic thinking equips them to align operational efforts with overarching business objectives, driving sustainable growth and organizational success.
Technical Expert in IT: Starting as a specialist in solving technical problems, a technical expert undergoes vertical development to integrate IT strategies within the broader business context. This evolution from a specialist to an integrator enables them to align technological innovations with business goals, fostering innovation and efficiency across the organization.
Individual Growth: An individual transitions from prioritizing personal achievements to considering their impact on the community and contributing to societal well-being. This shift from self-centric to community-focused thinking reflects vertical development in personal values and social responsibility, fostering a broader perspective and contributing positively to the community.

Strategies for Vertical Development

Self-Reflection: Regular self-reflection through practices like journaling, mindfulness, and meditation enhances awareness of thought patterns and biases, fostering deeper insights and personal growth.Tip: Try to encourage practices like these in your organization by setting examples.
Feedback and Coaching: Seeking feedback and engaging with coaches provide new perspectives and challenge existing ways of thinking, promoting continuous learning and development.Tip: Think about offering professional coaching sessions for employees, it’s a highly appreciated benefit among employees throughout the world.
Mentorship: Learning from mentors who exhibit advanced levels of development offers practical insights and inspiration for evolving one's thinking and approach to challenges.Good practice: Assign a mentor to every new employee and also to existing employees if they want to.
Experiential Learning: Engaging in diverse and challenging experiences pushes individuals out of their comfort zones, prompting growth and new perspectives. How? Find out which settings fit and enrich your organization and book or set up measures like in these examples.
Education and Training: Participating in programs emphasizing critical thinking, leadership development, and personal growth fosters higher-order thinking skills essential for vertical development. Good practice: Self-service learning packages like from GoodHabitz give employees the possibility to select a fitting training for their personal development and growth.

Navigating Vertical Development in a Digital Context

In today's digital era, where remote work and rapid information access are the norm, the need for vertical development extends beyond leaders to every employee. Remote work environments often lack the physical presence for natural mentorship and learning opportunities, making intentional vertical development practices even more critical.

Digital tools and platforms play a pivotal role in facilitating vertical development. Having set up a Learning Management Systems (LMS) and within a broad selection of curated resources and training modules empowers employees to enhance their skills and deepen their understanding. These platforms serve as repositories for feedback, coaching tips, and interactive learning experiences, fostering a culture of continuous growth and development across teams. By leveraging LMS platforms effectively, organizations can create structured pathways for employees to enhance their vertical development, adapt to digital work environments, and thrive amidst rapid change and complexity.

Conclusion

Vertical development is not just a journey for leaders; it is a pathway for every individual to achieve profound personal and professional growth in today's digital age. By embracing practices like self-reflection, seeking feedback, and leveraging digital learning platforms, employees can enhance their thinking capacity, resilience, and decision-making skills. Cultivating a growth mindset and investing in vertical development are essential steps toward navigating complexities, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable success in dynamic work environments.

For more insights on vertical development or to explore personalized coaching opportunities, feel free to reach out. Let's embark on this transformative journey together.