Altus Growth Partners

Meet Dorothy Lingren, MA, PCC—an architect of transformation, a trusted partner to leaders and organizations, and now, an invaluable part of the Altus team. With 35 years of experience, Dorothy’s innovation in leadership development in healthcare, tech, state government, and even the world of wine is inspiring. She is a catalyst for meaningful change—partnering with high-performing leaders and teams to move from uncertainty to clarity, challenge to momentum, and vision to real impact. Where she’s made a difference: ? Equipping leaders to thrive under pressure in high-stakes environments ? Driving large-scale transformation and team effectiveness across sectors ? Strengthening leadership across state agencies such as the California State Assembly, Caltrans, Public Health, UC Davis, and Water Boards Dorothy’s approach is deeply human-centered, research-driven, and focused on co-creating solutions that build on strengths and expand capacities. Outside of work, Dorothy is all about adventure—whether it’s exploring new countries, hiking in National Parks, or losing herself in an interesting book. We are thrilled to have Dorothy on board, bringing her wisdom, curiosity, and passion to the incredible leaders and teams we serve. Let’s give Dorothy a warm welcome! ??

?? Stop the scroll! ?? Altus executive coach, Heather Neely, drops some wisdom about the real difference between a group and a team. Great teams don’t just cross off tasks—they forge a “shared commitment to a future they believe in.” So, here’s the question: Is your team just checking boxes, or are you taking time to sync on the future you’re building together? Read on to find out how to lead your team towards something greater.

Ever had a team member say "??????" to something… but later, it’s clear they weren’t actually on board? This is because sometimes a spoken "??????" doesn’t always mean commitment. Sometimes it means “?? ??????????” or “?? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????.” The key to catching this? Listening beyond words. When working with executive leadership teams, we introduce a simple yet powerful exercise, created by our mentor, Bob Dunham, founder of the Institute for Generative Leadership: ???????? 1: We pair participants up and have each person say the words “?? ????????.” ???????? 2: Each person then says these simple words in ten different ways, with varying meanings—sometimes it’s “?? ????????” which means “???? ?? ???????? ?????? ????????,”?or “??’?? ?????????????? ???? ???? ????!” or even “??’?? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????.” ???????? 3: The listener is asked to pay attention to the speaker’s voice, breath, and body language. For many leaders and teams, this practice is an eye-opener. They realize how much they’ve been missing in everyday conversations. Because great leaders and teams don’t just hear what’s said. They notice how it’s said. Paying attention to these subtle cues can provide opportunities to clarify expectations, surface unspoken concerns, and build real alignment—before miscommunication slows everything down. Want to try it with your team? Give it five minutes. You’ll never hear “?? ????????”?the same way again.

Imagine leading the shutdown of a massive semiconductor plant—knowing that 1,000 people’s jobs were on the line. Do you focus on the bottom line? The people? The impossible task of balancing both? Isaura S Gaeta didn’t just manage the closure—she transformed it into a moment of leadership that defined her career. Instead of chaos and uncertainty, she built trust. Instead of disengagement, she created a vision her team believed in. The result? Employees didn’t just stay—they rallied, volunteered, and supported each other through one of the toughest transitions of their careers. In this must-listen episode of the ?????????????? ?????????????????????????? podcast, Isaura shares her unique approach to leadership with hosts Dan Winter (He/Him) and Lynette Winter, PCC, MBA: CPU: Commit. Persist. Unite. ? Commit to showing up as your best self—even when the road ahead is uncertain. ? Persist through setbacks, knowing resilience is the real differentiator. ? Unite diverse minds and perspectives, because no leader succeeds alone. This episode is filled with insights that challenge the way we think about leadership in moments that matter most. ?? Don’t miss this one—link in the comments.

As a leader, you make requests all the time—of your teams, your colleagues, and even yourself. But how often do you pay attention to what’s not being said? When someone agrees to take on a task, their words might say “yes,” but their body could be saying something different. A tense posture, a hesitant voice, or a lack of eye contact can signal a deeper emotion or unspoken concern. If you ignore these cues, you risk missing out on critical information that could lead to misalignment or unspoken frustrations. It’s not just about reading the body language of others, though. You also need to listen to your own body. The tightness in your chest, the fluttering in your stomach, or the discomfort in your throat—these sensations often signal that something doesn’t sit right, even when you’re outwardly agreeing to something. Sheeja Shaju explores this beautifully in her chapter of our 5-star book, ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????, highlighting the power of tuning into these signals for more aligned and authentic leadership. If you ignore these internal cues, you risk missing an opportunity to clarify expectations or define commitments that make sense for everyone. This is where effective communication as a leader really shines. Instead of brushing off subtle signals, lean into them. When you sense resistance or uncertainty—whether in others or yourself—it’s a chance to pause and dig deeper. Ask clarifying questions. Redefine the request to make sure it’s truly doable. Encourage open conversation so that everyone feels confident and clear. Your body is a valuable communication tool—are you listening? P.S. Illustration created by Pam Partington

?? New Season: The Missing Conversations Podcast is Back! ?? How do you inspire commitment—not resignation—when the future is uncertain? Former Intel VP and board leader Isaura S Gaeta has faced this challenge head-on. When tasked with leading the closure of a massive semiconductor plant, she had to balance tough business realities with the well-being of her people.? Instead of simply managing the transition, she inspired her team to rally around a shared vision for the future. Through one of the most difficult moments in her career, Isaura proved that even in uncertainty, a leader can create a transformative experience for their team. In this powerful season opener, Isaura joins hosts Dan Winter (He/Him) and Lynette Winter, PCC, MBA to share: ?? The difference between setting a goal and creating a vision people believe in ?? How to lead with both conviction and care—without sacrificing results ?? What it takes to guide brilliant minds and diverse teams in solving big challenges together Her insights are for any executive leading change, guiding diverse teams, or navigating uncharted territory. ??? Trust us—you don’t want to miss this one! P.S. Want to be the first to know when the episode drops? Visit the link in the comments.

When was the last time you celebrated a small win? Not the big, flashy, headline-making victories. Not the record-breaking quarter or the product launch that turned heads. But the tiny, incremental wins—the ones that shape how you lead, how you think, and how your team thrives. Paralympic silver medalist, U.S. Army combat veteran, and keynote speaker ? John Register, CSP?, CPAE, PLY has built a life and career on turning obstacles into opportunities. His approach? Recognizing micro-wins—the small but powerful shifts that build the “new normal” mindset for long-term success. In this episode, hosts Elayna Alexandra, M.B.A., NCC?, PCC and Steven Jones, Ph.D. dig deep into John’s powerful stories, making this episode a must-listen (link in comments).

“?????? ????????, ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????” We’ve all been there—expected to have the answer when the path forward is anything but clear. As Altus Team Coach, Elayna Alexandra, M.B.A., NCC?, PCC, shares with this powerful insight, leading through uncertainty isn’t about having all the answers—whether at home or work. It’s about listening before leading, turning uncertainty into a shared challenge, and aligning teams around a shared purpose. Ready to turn uncertainty into opportunity? Let’s chat.

At 87, Michelangelo shared, “?? ???? ?????????? ????????????????.” If this was true for one of the greatest artists of all time, it’s definitely true for a team. At Altus, we’ve been exploring, experimenting, and growing together for a while now. And one thing’s clear: learning isn’t just something we do—it’s who we are. It means stepping into the unknown, revisiting what we think we know, and sometimes unlearning ideas that no longer serve us. But it also means creating a dojo—a space where we feel safe enough to challenge each other and brave enough to be challenged back. Here’s an inside look into what that means for us: Weekly meetings: These aren’t just status updates. They’re alive with curiosity and celebration. We share ongoing initiatives, ask for input, and explore new ideas together. Three times per year gatherings: Three times a year, we meet in person (as much as possible) to dive deep into learning, collaboration, and co-designing our future. Just a couple of weeks ago we had our first Altus conference of the year—and we are still feeling the energy run through us. We’ve found that this rhythm of intentional conversations and in-person connections is crucial to maintaining a remote-first, global consultancy that stays innovative and cohesive. We’re not sharing this because we’ve figured it all out—far from it. We’re sharing because we’re still learning, and we’d love to learn from you too. How does your team create space for learning and growth?

A few years ago, a $70 billion company was fighting to sustain market share. An Altus colleague was called in to help. He made one powerful shift: He taught their leaders and 2,000-person sales team how to ask for and make effective promises. No longer would they just accept targets handed down from above. Instead, they learned to ask, “What am I truly promising to deliver?” Their promise included defining ???????????????????? ???? ????????????????????????—a clear description of the standards of the outcome that would satisfy the person to whom they committed. This wasn’t just about accountability. It was about creating clarity and commitment Because when a promise is made, two interpretations exist: One in the mind of the person making the promise and another in the mind of the person receiving it. If these interpretations don’t match, the organization isn’t aligned and, in our experience, will struggle to deliver. For this company, that one shift led to 40% year-over-year sales growth. Curious to learn more about how effective promises can transform your team and their success? Check out our 5-star book ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????.