Episode #42: Jennifer Garvey Berger – The Necessary Terror of Our Growth

Jennifer Garvey Berger has a new book out, called Unleash Your Complexity Genius. It is the fourth published work by the co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership, and when she says that her books are getting shorter there is a sense that it's because she's honing in on the rich essence of her life's work. In this episode of The Coach's Journey Podcast, Jennifer and I share a conversation that traverses adult developmental theory, complexity, vulnerability, and the transformative power of community and of "fierce friendship". We explore the junctures of growth that often appear as binary choices, and how the way forward tends to spring from a more balanced or holistic approach. Jennifer pulls these strands together into something of a manifesto for the power of connection between coaches, leaders and people who together can hold uncertainty, and support each other to dream bigger and create a future filled with possibility – even as the world around us changes beyond recognition.  In this episode, we talk about: The necessary terror of change Developmental theory The trap we fall into when comparing ourselves to others The simplicity on the far side of complexity Polished and unpolished vulnerability, and how to create more love in organisations Jennifer also shares personal reflections on growth, and the inspiring story of how she came to live and work with her friends in a shared house in France. To learn more about Jennifer, visit https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/team-member/jennifer-garvey-berger or https://twitter.com/jgberger. For information about my wider work, my writing or to buy my books, visit www.robbieswale.com. Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community. Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in): - Unleash Your Complexity Genius by Carolyn Coughlin and Jennifer Garvey Berger https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/book/__trashed - Jennifer's other books https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/books - Joel Monk on the Coach's Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-6-joel-monk-conversations-at-the-cutting-edge-of-coaching - Art of Developmental Coaching with Coaches Rising https://www.coachesrising.com/artofdevelopmentalcoaching/ - A preview of the book that Robbie mentions, that isn’t out yet, The Power to Choose https://www.robbieswale.com/writing/2020/3/23/why-am-i-sharing-parts-of-my-forthcoming-book-the-power-to-choose - Robbie's 12-minute series of books https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12minute-books - Catherine Fitzgerald https://changeelemental.org/people/catherine-fitzgerald/ - Executive Coaching, by Catherine Fitzgerald https://www.amazon.co.uk/Executive-Coaching-Practices-Perspectives/dp/0891061614 - Robert Kegan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kegan - In Over Our Heads, by Robert Kegan https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674445888 - Dave Snowden and Cognitive Edge https://thecynefin.co/ - Jean Piaget https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget - Cathy Presland on The Coach's Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-17-cathy-presland-government-advisor-to-three-principles-coach - Brené Brown https://brenebrown.com/ - Amy Edmondson https://amycedmondson.com/ - The article about Jennifer's dream of moving to France: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dreaming-good-company-jennifer-garvey-berger/ - Wendy Bittner http://www.cultivatingleadership.com/team-member/wendy-bittner - Nicole Brigandi https://www.nicolebrigandicoaching.com/