Leadership development is a critical investment for any organization that wants to stay ahead of the competition. However, there is a growing debate about the best way to develop leaders. Some experts believe that organizations should focus on horizontal leadership development, while others argue that vertical leadership development is essential for scalable leadership.
The Cost of Focusing on Horizontal Leadership Development
Horizontal leadership development focuses on building skills, knowledge, and competencies. This type of development can be important for helping leaders to perform their jobs effectively. However, it is not enough to develop leaders who are simply good at what they do. In today’s complex and ever-changing world, organizations need leaders who can think strategically and solve problems creatively.
When organizations focus solely on horizontal leadership development, they risk creating leaders who are technically proficient but lack the vision and creativity to drive change. This can lead to organizations that are slow to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.
Why Horizontal Leadership Development Still Dominates the Market
There are a few reasons why horizontal leadership development still dominates the market. First, it is easier to measure and track progress in horizontal leadership development than in vertical leadership development. Second, horizontal leadership development is often seen as a more cost-effective way to develop leaders. Third, many organizations simply do not have the resources to invest in vertical leadership development.
What is Vertical Development?
Vertical leadership development focuses on transforming who a leader is. This type of development can help leaders to develop new mindsets, beliefs, and values. It can also help leaders to expand their consciousness and become more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses.
Vertical leadership development is essential for scalable leadership because it helps leaders to develop the capacity to think strategically and solve problems creatively. It also helps leaders to build strong relationships and create a culture of collaboration and innovation.
How Vertical Leadership Development Can Be Nurtured
There are a number of ways to nurture vertical leadership development. One way is to provide leaders with opportunities for reflection and self-awareness. This can be done through coaching, mentoring, and other forms of personal development. Another way to nurture vertical leadership development is to create a culture of learning and experimentation. This can be done by encouraging leaders to take risks, try new things, and fail forward.
How Vertical and Horizontal Leadership Combine to Produce Tangible Results
Vertical and horizontal leadership are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are complementary. Vertical leadership provides the foundation for horizontal leadership, and horizontal leadership helps to put vertical leadership into practice.
When vertical and horizontal leadership are combined, organizations can achieve tangible results. They can become more innovative, more adaptable, and more successful.
The importance of connecting vertical and horizontal leadership in pursuit of scalable leadership is becoming increasingly clear. Organizations that can develop leaders who are both technically proficient and visionary are well-positioned to succeed in the 21st century.