My primary focus is working with NEW and Existing Firm Leaders to coach, challenge and escalate their thinking on how to lead and compete effectively. A complaint I hear from Firm Leaders about any previous coaching experience is: “All the coach did was ask a lot of questions without ever giving me any answers or offer advice.” This approach emphasizes ‘self-directed discovery’, the one taught by many of the largest coaching-certification providers. That is NOT what I do! I am more of an “Expert Advisor.” NEW Leaders especially, benefit mostly by working with someone who can give substantive directions, and knows a lot of answers to what they specifically need to address in their early days leading an entire firm.In 2006, my e-book First 100 Days: Transitioning A New Managing Partner (NXTBook) earned glowing reviews read by leaders in 63 countries, and culminated in my being asked to conduct a one-day Masterclass for new firm leaders, "First 100 Days" usually held at the University of Chicago. Over 80 NEW leaders from large legal, accounting and international consulting firms graduated from this program.A prolific writer on firm leadership, my book (with David Maister), First Among Equals: How to Manage a Group of Professionals (The Free Press, 2002) topped business bestseller lists in the United States, Canada and Australia; was translated into 9 languages; is currently in its sixth printing; and received an award for being one of the best business books of 2002. The book 'Management Skills' (John Wiley, 2005) named me among the “leading thinkers in the field“ together with Peter Drucker; while 'In The Company of Leaders' (2024) included my work amongst 60 international luminaries like Marshall Goldsmith. My book, 'Strategy Innovation: Getting to The Future FIRST' (LBW Publishing, 2019) was followed by my 12th book, 'Industry Specialization: Making Competitors Irrelevant' released in 2022. I have also contributed Chapters to 48 different internationally published business, professional and academic books and monographs; with 4 of those released in 2024.I have served on both Corporate and Advisory Boards for companies in the international media; legaltech; alternative dispute resolution and healthcare industries. For over 10 years I've been the Contributing Editor to 'Of Counsel, The Legal Practice and Management Report' (New York); a recipient of an “Honorary Fellowship” from Leaders Excellence of Harvard Square; and acknowledged by Thinkers360 as being amongst the Global TOP 10 in both Leadership and in Business Strategy.
Listed skills include Strategy, Strategic Planning, Management Consulting, Leadership, and 30 others.