Becoming Deliberately Developmental

Welcome to a soulful, candid conversation with experienced coach Donna Trebilcock who is, without a doubt, one of the wisest and most passionate people leaders I have ever met, working in service of a one-of-a-kind brave, norm-bending organisation: Chorus.

Together, we explore how deliberately developmental principles are being put into practice within Chorus — through redefining leadership, cultivating collective responsibility, and fostering environments where people can grow into their next developmental edge, but also Donna’s own journey or vertical development and the way it has enabled her to hold space for others’ growth. Donna invites us to a space where raw vulnerability is balanced with practical insights, offering a window into what it really takes to build a developmental organization while becoming a developmental person.

If you are in any shape and form involved in leading people or leading people functions, or perhaps coaching or facilitating the growth of people in work contexts, this episode is not to be missed.

Episode Summary

* [00:00:00] Introduction to Donna Trebilcock

* Donna’s background and coaching approach.

* Introduction to Chorus as a self-managing, purpose-driven organization.

* [00:03:00] The Reality of Developmental Work

* How personal and organisational growth journeys are intertwined

* [00:10:00] Identity and Developmental Transition

* The inner struggle: “Who am I if I’m not indispensable?”

* Donna’s transition from Achiever to Redefining and coaching as a turning point.

* [00:18:00] The Role of Experimentation in Developmental Leadership

* Concrete team-level experiments (e.g., peer feedback in meetings).

* Removing top-down control creates empowered, engaged teams.

* [00:23:00] Inside the Chorus Experiment

* Chorus’ unique model: flat, no hierarchy, no job titles.

* Internal coaching evolving from performance focus to deep developmental work.

* [00:28:00] Leading Without Authority

* Challenges of influence without power.

* Coaching as key to growing leadership capacity at all levels.

* [00:31:00] Democratizing Power and Accountability

* Playbooks co-created by staff.

* Agreement-making frameworks that anticipate and hold conflict.

* [00:35:00] Impact and Outcomes

* Increased engagement, innovation, autonomy.

* Vertical development becoming core to the culture.

* [00:38:00] Growth Labs and Organizational Learning

* Development becoming embedded across onboarding, meetings, and eventually recruitment.

* Creating local autonomy and minimizing centralized enabling functions.

* [00:43:00] The Messiness of Developmental Work

* Dealing with legacy structures and culture.

* Compassion and patience as foundational mindsets.

* [00:48:00] When Empowerment Pushes Back

* Confronting the discomfort of power being questioned.

* Walking the talk as a leadership team, even when it’s hard.

* [00:51:00] Slowing Down to Speed Up

* Developmental debriefs in high-pressure times.

* Counterintuitive moves to nurture sustainable growth.

* [00:55:00] Donna’s Advice to Her Earlier Self

* Expect and embrace the mess.

* Compassion for self and others is essential fuel.

* [00:59:00] Hope and the Ripple Effect

* Recognising human potential and the messy, gritty, real work of making the world better.

Guest Bio: Donna Trebilcock

Donna is a certified Executive, Organisational, and Systems Coach specialising in leadership and team development through a vertical (adult development) lens. She supports leaders and teams to grow in complexity, strengthen relationships, and navigate meaningful change — especially in progressive, self-managing, or values-led organisations.With deep experience coaching individuals and teams at all levels, she brings a grounded, developmental approach to building high-performing, purpose-driven cultures. She works in close partnership with clients to co-create coaching engagements that meet them where they are and support their most important goals.Donna’s practice is shaped by ongoing professional development and lived experience in complex, adaptive organisational systems. She is passionate about the real work of leadership — cultivating the inner capacity to lead amidst uncertainty, build trust, and grow collective intelligence.Key qualifications and tools Donna brings to coaching partnerships include: • Certified in Executive, Organisational and Relationship Systems Coaching • Leadership Maturity Profile (LMP) accredited • Leadership Circle Profile (LCP) 360-degree accredited • ORSC (Organisation & Relationship Systems Coaching) trained • NLP Practitioner • CILCA360 accredited • Shifting Horizons Advanced Practitioner Certified • Expert workshop design and facilitation (from small teams to whole systems) • Experienced in large-scale transformation and public sector environments

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