In a recent LinkedIn post, Florence Divet ☀️ discusses the common pitfall of collecting leadership courses without a structured approach, contrasting it with a deliberate curriculum designed for progressive skill-building. The post highlights that true leadership development requires a sequential, foundational approach, moving from self-awareness to managing complex, emergent challenges.
Florence Divet ☀️ emphasizes the importance of order in learning, stating:
“Most people collect leadership courses. Very few take them in an order that actually builds. That’s the difference between a reading list and a curriculum.”
The core argument presented by Florence Divet ☀️ is that leadership skills are not acquired in a vacuum but rather build upon each other. This progression, according to the post, is crucial for effective leadership at all levels.
The Five Stages of Leadership Development According to Divet ☀️
Florence Divet ☀️ outlines a five-stage framework for leadership development, moving from an internal focus to external, complex challenges. Each stage is supported by recommended free courses from reputable institutions.
Stage 1: Know Yourself
Florence Divet ☀️ posits that self-awareness is the bedrock of all leadership. Without understanding oneself, leading others effectively is significantly hampered. As Florence Divet ☀️ notes, “You can’t lead a team well if you’ve skipped learning to lead yourself.” This initial stage focuses on developing personal leadership styles and wisdom.
Stage 2: Lead Others
Once self-awareness is established, the focus shifts to external relationships. Florence Divet ☀️ explains that this stage is about building trust and influence without making leadership about the self. The post suggests this involves learning to develop other individuals before attempting to shape broader organizational structures.
Stage 3: Lead a Team
This stage, according to Florence Divet ☀️, moves beyond managing individuals to understanding the dynamics of a group working together. It involves fostering collaboration, establishing accountability, and navigating team interactions effectively. Florence Divet ☀️ points out that leading several individuals is distinct from leading the system they create collectively.
“Leading several individuals is not the same as leading the system they create together.”
Stage 4: Lead the Organization
Florence Divet ☀️ frames this stage as a shift from managing current operations to actively shaping the future. It involves strategic thinking and long-term planning, moving beyond immediate concerns to influence the organization’s trajectory. This requires developing capabilities in strategic leadership and management.
Stage 5: Lead Through Complexity
The final stage, as described by Florence Divet ☀️, is perhaps the most challenging. It’s not about having definitive answers but about guiding others when solutions are not yet apparent. This requires a different kind of leadership—one that facilitates progress in ambiguous and uncertain environments.
“The final stage is not about having better answers. It is about helping people move forward when the answers do not yet exist.”
Florence Divet ☀️ concludes by encouraging readers to identify which stage they most need to focus on, underscoring that leadership development is an ongoing, personalized journey.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Florence Divet ☀️ on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on July 23, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →