{"id":21079,"date":"2026-07-06T14:44:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T19:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/?p=21079"},"modified":"2026-07-06T14:44:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T19:44:09","slug":"selecting-pillars-for-a-leadership-compass-cohort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/?p=21079","title":{"rendered":"Selecting Pillars for a Leadership Compass Cohort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Leadership Compass is organized around five pillars. Each pillar focuses on a different part of leadership clarity, consistency, and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When creating or editing a cohort, the Champion or Admin may choose which pillars are enabled for that cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why pillar selection matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pillar selection determines the participant experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The enabled pillars control:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>which questions participants answer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>which reflection cards are generated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>what content is available for the Leadership Compass Guide<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>how completion percentage is calculated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>what participants see as their next step<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whether additional pillar unlocks or pricing may apply<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Participants only complete the pillars enabled for their cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The five Leadership Compass pillars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Leadership Compass includes five pillars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Know Your Core<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set Your Standard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Live Your Promise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lead Your Team<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refine Your Compass<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Each pillar builds on the one before it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pillar 1: Know Your Core<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Know Your Core<\/strong> helps participants identify who they are before defining how they lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This pillar focuses on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>values<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>purpose<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>strengths<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>emotional intelligence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>defining moments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>leadership identity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pillar 1 is the foundation for the rest of the Leadership Compass process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is usually the best starting point for every cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pillar 2: Set Your Standard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Set Your Standard<\/strong> helps participants define the expectations they want to model and reinforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This pillar focuses on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>leadership philosophy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>standards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>non-negotiables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>team expectations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>behavior under pressure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>commitment to model the standard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pillar 2 helps participants move from self-awareness into visible leadership behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pillar 3: Live Your Promise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Live Your Promise<\/strong> helps participants connect their values and standards to daily practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This pillar focuses on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>alignment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>rituals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>integrity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>accountability partners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>feedback loops<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>mirror questions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>leadership consistency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pillar 3 helps participants turn reflection into repeatable leadership habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pillar 4: Lead Your Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lead Your Team<\/strong> helps participants define how they communicate, decide, and create a healthy team environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This pillar focuses on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>conflict<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>team agreements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>psychological safety<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>inclusion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>decision-making<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>operating model<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pillar 4 is especially useful for people who manage, influence, or lead teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pillar 5: Refine Your Compass<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Refine Your Compass<\/strong> helps participants review what they have built and adapt it for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This pillar focuses on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>reflection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>adaptive leadership<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>feedback integration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>development roadmap<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>recommitment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ongoing growth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pillar 5 helps participants keep their Compass alive after the program ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do all cohorts need all five pillars?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some cohorts may complete all five pillars. Others may begin with only Pillar 1 or use a smaller set of pillars based on the program design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>an introductory program may use only Pillar 1<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a manager development program may use Pillars 1, 2, and 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a full leadership development cohort may use all five pillars<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a follow-up cohort may focus on Pillar 5 and post-program reflection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The right selection depends on your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recommended pillar combinations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introductory Compass<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pillar 1: Know Your Core<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for organizations introducing Leadership Compass for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leadership Standards Cohort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pillar 1: Know Your Core<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 2: Set Your Standard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for leaders who need to clarify personal standards and expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accountability and Culture Cohort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pillar 1: Know Your Core<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 2: Set Your Standard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 3: Live Your Promise<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for teams working on alignment, consistency, and accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Manager or Team Leader Cohort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pillar 1: Know Your Core<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 2: Set Your Standard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 3: Live Your Promise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 4: Lead Your Team<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for managers, team leads, department heads, and people leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full Leadership Compass<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pillar 1: Know Your Core<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 2: Set Your Standard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 3: Live Your Promise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 4: Lead Your Team<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 5: Refine Your Compass<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for full leadership development programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How pillar selection affects participant progress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Participants are measured against the pillars enabled for their cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a cohort has two enabled pillars, completing those two pillars should complete the active program phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a cohort has five enabled pillars, participants complete the active program phase after completing all five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Progress should be based on selected pillars, not a fixed assumption that every cohort uses all five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How pillar selection affects the final guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Leadership Compass Guide is assembled from the participant\u2019s accepted reflections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If fewer pillars are enabled, the guide will include content from the pillars the participant completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If all five pillars are enabled, the guide can include a fuller leadership profile, including values, standards, rituals, team agreements, roadmap, and recommitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How pillar selection affects pricing or unlocks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on your organization\u2019s setup, the free portion generally includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Leadership Compass access<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CliftonStrengths entry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pillar 1<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the initial Leadership Philosophy informed by Pillar 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Additional pillars may require an unlock or paid access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before enabling Pillars 2\u20135, confirm that the cohort setup matches the organization\u2019s agreement and expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should pillars be completed in order?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually, yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pillars are designed to build on each other:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>know yourself<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>define your standard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>practice your promise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lead your team<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>refine over time<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Completing them in order creates the clearest experience and strongest final guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can enabled pillars be changed later?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Possibly, but be careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Changing enabled pillars after participants have started may affect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>completion percentage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>next-step logic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reflection cards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>facilitator review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>guide generation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pricing or unlocks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If participants have already started, it may be better to create a new cohort instead of changing the active one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens if a pillar is disabled?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If a pillar is not enabled for the cohort, participants should not be required to complete it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disabled pillars should not count against completion percentage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also may not appear in the participant\u2019s workflow or final guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should Champions consider before selecting pillars?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before selecting pillars, ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is the goal of this cohort?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How much time do participants have?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Will this cohort include managers, executives, emerging leaders, or mixed roles?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does the organization want a full guide or a lighter starting experience?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are facilitators available to support deeper reflection?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are additional pillars unlocked or approved?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Should this be a full cohort or a shorter introductory program?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can we start with Pillar 1 and add more later?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, but it should be done carefully. If participants have already completed the cohort, adding more pillars may change expectations and progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can we skip Pillar 1?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pillar 1 is usually the foundation of the process. Skipping it is not recommended unless the program has a specific reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a cohort use only Pillars 2\u20135?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is usually not recommended because later pillars rely on the participant\u2019s values, strengths, and leadership identity from Pillar 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do disabled pillars appear in the guide?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, no. The guide is built from accepted reflections from enabled and completed pillars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does completing all enabled pillars complete the program?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. The active program phase should be complete when the participant finishes all pillars enabled for that cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can different participants in the same cohort have different pillars?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Typically, pillar selection is cohort-level. If different participants need a different experience, consider creating separate cohorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troubleshooting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Participants are seeing the wrong pillars.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Review the cohort\u2019s enabled pillar settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Completion percentage seems wrong.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Confirm that progress is being calculated from enabled pillars only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Participants completed their selected pillars but do not see the guide.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Confirm that the participant accepted their reflection cards and that all enabled pillars are complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A paid pillar is not available.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The pillar may not be unlocked for the cohort or organization. Contact your Champion, Admin, or Performance Scoring support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We selected too many pillars.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If participants have not started, edit the cohort before launch. If participants have already started, review the impact before changing the setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start with Pillar 1 unless there is a specific reason not to.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Match pillar selection to the program goal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid changing pillars after launch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use all five pillars for full leadership development programs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use fewer pillars for shorter or introductory programs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm unlocks and pricing before launch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communicate the selected scope to participants before they begin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Good pillar selection keeps the cohort focused and helps participants understand exactly what they are building.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leadership Compass is organized around five pillars. Each pillar focuses on a different part of leadership clarity, consistency, and growth. When creating or editing a cohort, the Champion or Admin [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_helpful_status":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[202],"tags":[27,203,204],"class_list":["post-21079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership-compass","tag-implementation","tag-leadership-compass","tag-leadership-development"],"wps_subtitle":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21079"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21081,"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21079\/revisions\/21081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/securedb.io\/kb\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}