University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Changing on the Job
Book

Changing on the Job

Developing Leaders for a Complex World

Jennifer Garvey Berger
Stanford UP, 2011
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8

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Corporate trainer Jennifer Garvey Berger studied under Robert Kegan at Harvard University, where she learned and applied his theory of adult development based on three transformative stages of growth. Berger offers a guide to putting that theory into practice, particularly with leaders in organizations. You’re likely to relate to Kegan’s stages of development, seeing elements of each in yourself and others. Berger’s premise, that work and learning should align to each persons’ stage of development, makes sense, as does her advice about how to help people advance through the stages. Berger frames much of her writing as thoughts under formation, and invites readers to add and share ideas. Her 2011 work has become a recognized, lasting reference in the field of adult development. 

Summary

Life, work and business are more complicated than ever before for people and organizations.

The interconnected, difficult decisions that organizations, leaders, parents and policy makers face might help determine the fate of firms or the future of humanity. Unfortunately, few leaders have the depth of developmental maturity to select the best course of action.

While working people and their leaders can’t count on anything with certainty, a few patterns and reliable indicators can guide you and your teams through your lives and careers. These frameworks include consciously advancing through the three stages of adult development. This will help you gain the ability to cope with the modern workplace’s ever-increasing degrees of complexity, disruption and uncertainty.

Adults never lose their ability to grow and learn. With deliberate practice and experience, you can expand your leadership skills. How you react to an issue as an executive with 15 years of leadership experience might differ greatly from the way you handled the same problem as a supervisor back when you had only two years of experience.

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About the Author

Jennifer Garvey Berger trains leaders and coaches worldwide using Robert Kegan’s stages of adult development. She is also the author of Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps.

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