Vertical Development – Sense Making

My dad wanted to give my daughter his new walker. He said, “It’s too fancy for me, and it seems Julie showed great interest in it when she put it together.” This highlights how a 96-year-old makes sense of the world.

Like my dad, we see the world through our views of reality. For example, If your boss ignores your proposal, you can take it to mean he doesn’t value you. That’s one perspective. You can also consider proposing in a different context or time to get your boss’s attention. That’s a different view.

Vertical development is one of my coaching focuses, which explores developmental stages through a sense-making lens. Our life experience impacts our sense-making, and many things affect our experiences. While it may be challenging to understand why and how people make sense of things, developing this skill is essential for building a strong team or relationships.

Listening and asking questions enhance our understanding of how others view and respond to situations. The ability to step into someone else’s shoes expresses empathy. Have you ever recognized another perspective and changed your view of that person? Embrace the practice of sense-making and watch how it can change your interactions.