William Bergquist and Gary Quehl In preparing most of our essays in Caring Deeply, we have turned to our own research findings about Generativity Two, relying primarily on the 100 interviews that we conducted with Emerging and Senior Sage leaders in Western Nevada County California. In later essay, we will review some of the analyses that have already been done …

This is a special issue for us—the Twentieth we have produced in our digital publication called The Future of Coaching. It all began with a meeting that both of us attended in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A dozen senior coaches met to discuss ways in which to more effectively steward the growing and changing human service field called Professional Coaching. …

Coaching the whole person requires a “whole coach.” Interdisciplinarity is required—this is part of the job description for a professional coach.

In The Future of Coaching we endeavor to present a wide variety of topics—ranging from an issue on the evidence for coaching to an issue on coaching and vulnerability. We are also beginning to offer issues that come in diverse formats. The issue that immediately preceded this one, for instance, consisted completely of coaching tools and strategies. In the current …

Both Alpha and Beta offered stability (or at least predictability). Yet, I found both lands to be disturbing. They both challenged my sense of what life should be and how we should engage other members of our society. Perhaps I will find a bit more peace-of-mind in the land of Gamma.

As a 21st Century Gulliver, I will be passing through three lands on the way to a land of irony. In this essay, I pass through the first two lands: Alpha and Beta.

In this essay I explore patterns and variations—and the interplay between contradictions that often emerge from this interplay. Specifically, I address the dynamics of individual character and organizational culture.

The contingent leader at times can lead through wisdom, and at other times can lead through either courage or vision.

I am not alone in suggesting that complexity, uncertainty (including ambiguity) and turbulence (volatility) are widely to be found in our contemporary world. I add, a fourth component that makes complexity, uncertainty and turbulence even more challenging—this is the condition of contradiction.

I will be engaging Rorty’s concept of irony throughout the multi-dimensional analysis that is to follow.