Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D. is a cutting-edge leadership development author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets. He is also an associate leadership professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University-Fullerton. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources from Indiana University, and a B.A. from Brigham Young University. As a consultant, he works with organizations to develop their leaders and improve their culture. Ryan is the author of Success Mindsets: The Key to Unlocking Greater Success in Your Life, Work, & Leadership. He has written multiple articles for Leading Saints, presented at a live event about mindsets, and is a repeat podcast guest.

As Ryan reviewed leadership research, he found it primarily answered one question: “What do leaders need to do to be effective?” The focus of his work has been on “What do leaders need to be to be effective?” In this podcast, Ryan and Kurt discuss the concept of vertical development and how it applies to individuals and leadership.

Highlights6:25 Vertical development is the next topic Ryan has been studying and writing about. It applies to us emotionally and spiritually, and possibly even physically.7:40 Overview of mindsets: Mindsets are the mental lenses we wear that shape how we view the world9:10 What vertical development is

Three adult developmental stages that are a function of effort, both horizontally and verticallyElevating our ability to make meaning of our world in more cognitively and emotionally sophisticated ways12:00 Examples of how people in different levels respond to constructive criticism

13:45 The three different levels

Mind 1.0: Focused on our comfort, safety, and belonging. Self-protective. Dependent thinkers, exchanging power and independence for these needs.Mind 2.0: Focused on being seen, advanced, and getting ahead. Independent thinkers, in self-reward mode.Mind 3.0: Focused on contributing and adding value, externally focused on lifting and elevating others. Interdependent thinkers, able to see from different perspectives and sit with complexity. Only 1% of adults get to this place.

20:00 Becoming more like the Savior happens through vertical development

Example of Mind 1.0 recommendation for seeking informationApproaching teaching from the perspective of vertical vs. horizontal development

25:15 The tension between safety and truth

Example of people protecting the safety of beliefs in a Sunday School lessonBeing a seeker of truth and learning to sit with complexity instead of becoming defensiveIt is in the interpreting that we connect with God

31:05 Leaders operate differently depending on their vertical development

Do we even allow for a conversation about interpretation?“Aspiring” fits into Mind 2.0Mind 3.0 leaders are focused on creating a culture that is inclusive and allows for growth and development

37:25 The culture of aspiring to leadership39:00 How do we go about developing vertically?

What makes meaning for us are our mindsetsExample of an inward vs. outward mindset and how it helps us become more like Jesus ChristSeeing others as doing their best: “What has happened to you?” vs. “What is wrong with you?”

46:20 Learning acceptance: Healing from our own traumas as we recognize Christ accepting us

Vertical development involves calming our response so we have a greater toleranceThe new “Sunday School answer”: get to where you can have 100% acceptance before doing anything51:35 When we help people repent we help them change their hearts and how they make meaning with their world, not their behaviors and actions

55:00 Where to start57:55 Our vertical development is about healing our minds and heartsLinksSuccess MindsetsRising StrongWhat Happened to You?The Body Keeps the ScoreThe Bonds That Make Us Free