Leadership development isn’t just about what we know. It’s about how we see the world.

I’ve now completed the Leadership Maturity Framework (LMF) training four times, and each time I come away with a deeper understanding of adult development and its application to leadership.

There’s growing interest in vertical development, particularly here on LinkedIn, and I think it’s worth understanding what makes it different from more traditional approaches to leadership development.

Horizontal development focuses on building our knowledge, skills and competencies. Vertical development, on the other hand, is about expanding our capacity to make meaning of the world, to hold multiple perspectives and to navigate increasing complexity.

Both are important, but they are fundamentally different developmental processes.

In my executive coaching practice, I’ve been using the LMF with senior leaders over the past two years. What continues to stand out is how much context matters. Our developmental maturity is one part of understanding how we show up as leaders, alongside our personality, experiences and the environments in which we operate.

I’m also increasingly hearing from HR directors who want leaders with greater perspective-taking capacity, adaptability and the ability to balance immediate demands with longer-term thinking.

These are not necessarily capabilities we can develop through a two-day workshop.

Meaningful vertical development takes time, reflection and practice. It’s not simply about understanding developmental theory, but learning to embody it.

This is something Dr Maja Stanojevic-Andre brings so beautifully to her work. With a background spanning medicine, psychiatry and leadership development, Maja combines a deep understanding of human development with the lived practice of what she teaches.

As interest in vertical development grows, I think it’s increasingly important to look carefully at the expertise and experience of those offering training in this space.

At The Positivity Institute, we’re delighted to be hosting Maja’s five-day Leadership Maturity Framework Intensive through IFDC. It’s a small-group learning experience that I’ve found enormously valuable, both personally and professionally.

For those curious about deepening their understanding of adult development and its application to leadership, I encourage you to explore it.

Early bird registrations close 30 November.

Learn more and register now.