James Kerr

Indispensable Consulting 

Representative Engagements:
•	Culture Transformation Engagement Leader - Deliver culture baseline assessment, strategic alignment assessment, target culture definition, gap analysis, action plans, governance models;

•	Organization Redesign Engagement Leader - Deliver current organizational assessment, current operating model assessment, target organizational design, target operating model, staffing models, reporting structures, roll-out recommendations;

•	Business Transformation Engagement Leader - Deliver current operations assessment, target operations development, change project ID and documentation, prioritization timeline, plan administration recommendations;

•	Strategic Planning Engagement Leader - Deliver stakeholder interviewing, vision development, environmental analysis, competitive analysis, strategic operating drivers and principles, strategy development, strategic plans;

•	Leadership Coaching Program Leader – Deliver coaching program design and structure, participant self-assessment, 360 feedback administration, co-creation of individualized coaching plan, coaching of each participant;

Founder

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - The Lally School of Management

Teaching Strategic Planning courses within the MBA program.

Adjunct Professor

Psychology Today

Columnist

Inc. Magazine

I've written over 200 articles on leadership, culture, strategy and transformative change for the magazine.

Management Issues

I tend to write provocative pieces on leadership and the workplace for this fine U.K. business periodical.

BIZCATALYST 360°

Do business better! I help CXOs / VPs / Directors create high-performing workplaces by delivering the right combination of business consulting and leadership coaching services.

I specialize in Culture Transformation, Leadership Coaching, Vision Storytelling, Scenario Planning, Organizational Design and Organizational Development, Employee Engagement, and all kinds of Change Management Planning and Execution.

My clients have included:
- Accenture, 
- General Dynamics, 
- AXA Financial, 
- Bic, 
- The Hartford, 
- Mitsumi Sumitomo Insurance, 
- The Home Depot, 
- Insurity, 
- U. S. Marine Corps,
to name a few.

Currently, I’m seeking consulting opportunities with Fortune 500 and higher-end middle market companies as well as any organization interested in developing their leaders through leadership coaching.

Leadership coaching eats leadership training for lunch.


And, please quote me on that!

Blasphemy you say...Hmm?

Hear me out on why coaching is significantly more effective than traditional training methods in developing leadership skills:

😎 Personalized Development: Leadership coaching is way more personalized and tailored to the specific needs and goals of individual leaders. I know I work closely with leaders to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, crafting strategies and action plans design just for them. 

Generic leadership training programs aren't designed to provide bespoke development plans.

😎 Real-Time Feedback and Support: Unlike traditional training programs that often provide information in a one-size-fits-all format, coaching offers real-time feedback and support. 

I engage leaders in ongoing conversations, challenging their thinking, providing feedback on their actions, and offering guidance as they navigate complex leadership situations. One-on-one attention accelerates learning and growth.

😎 Application to Real-World Contexts: My leadership coaching emphasizes the application of skills and concepts to my coaching client's real-world leadership challenges. Indeed, I help leaders translate theoretical knowledge into practical action, offering insights and strategies that are directly applicable to the leader's context and organizational environment. 

The closest a training programs comes to this is case study work.

😎 Accountability and Follow-Up: I hold leaders accountable for their development goals and progress. This accountability mechanism fosters greater discipline and commitment compared to standalone training programs where follow-up is limited, at best.

😎 Long-Term Impact: Leadership coaching often results in long-term behavioral change and sustainable improvement in leadership effectiveness. By addressing underlying beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, I help leaders cultivate new habits and mindsets that endure beyond the duration of the coaching engagement. 

This focus on long-term impact distinguishes coaching from short-term training interventions that may yield temporary improvements.
 
While leadership training programs serve a valuable purpose in providing foundational knowledge and skills, coaching offers far more impact for businesses seeking to maximize their leadership development  investment.

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

Some coaches want you to feel good, I don't!


Instead, I want you to become great!

Of course, that only happens when you're given what you need to be exceptional - even when the message is not necessarily what you want to hear.

I give my coaching clients what they need to hear by:

😎 Providing An Objective Perspective: By giving you what you need rather than what you want, I ensure you receive advice that's most beneficial for your growth and development.

😎 Addressing Blind Spots: By focusing on what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear, I can help uncover your blind spots and work with you to address them effectively, leading to unprecedented growth.

😎 Challenging Their Assumptions: When you choose to gravitate towards to  what's comfortable or familiar you can become stagnant. I'll challenge your thinking and contribute to your long-term growth as a leader.

😎 Building A Foundation for Sustained Success: By focusing on what you need, I can help you build foundational skills, develop a growth mindset, and cultivate qualities that will serve you well beyond your current circumstances. 

😎 Driving Accountability and Results: While giving you what you want might provide temporary satisfaction, giving you what you need ensures that you stay motivated to deliver. 

I'm here to help when you're ready.
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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially less experienced ones achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

Watch this short clip featuring Marshall Goldsmith

It offers some perspective on the topic of victim mentality, which IMHO lurks like a persistent office ghost, haunting cubicles and conference rooms alike.

But, the best part of the 1 minute clip is that it ends with a Hollywood cliff hanger...

You'll need to check out The Indispensable Conversation podcast to find out how it ends

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them. I also host The Indispensable Conversation Podcast -- New Season coming this April...

#IStandWithEvan


If you don't know what this means, look it up! 

Why does a management consultant and leadership coach care about it? 

Because the underlying issue impacts us all!

You see, freedom of speech fosters an environment where diverse perspectives and ideas can flourish. 

In a business context, this can lead to innovation and creativity as employees feel empowered to express their thoughts and suggestions without fear of censorship or retribution.

Remember, a free, independent media allow the public to make informed decisions, hold leaders accountable and learn, if we're open to it, from the  diversity of opinions being offered — all free of government influence.

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them. I also host The Indispensable Conversation Podcast where we get after important, and often overlooked, leadership issues like this one -- New Season coming this April...

Are we biased about who coaches us, or is it just the HR Department that worries about it?


I wrote this piece for Psychology Today and it's all about:

1. Cultural Competence
2. Unconscious Bias
3. Diversity
4. Inclusion
5. Empathy
6. Awareness
7. Authenticity
8. Sensitivity
9. Cross-Cultural Communication
10. Equity
11. Mentorship
12. Respect
13. Fairness
14. Empowerment
15. Coaching
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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

https://lnkd.in/e5Ym4tnv

psychologytoday.com • 4 min read

Leadership Coaching: Does Race or Gender Matter?

In this short, I ask HR executive Ebony Travis Tichenor, MBA, PHR her opinion of the "stickiness" of the hybrid work-setting that emerged in response to the pandemic. 


While the clip is about The Future of Work: Embracing the Hybrid Work-Setting, it also covers: 

Leadership Thinking 
Employee Connection 
Workplace Community

Check it out and be sure to subscribe...

youtube.com

The Future of Work: Embracing the Hybrid Work-Setting | Indispensable Consulting

Today's Bull$*** Buzzword is "Empathy!"


The superpower that lets you understand why your friend is crying over a fictional character's death in a TV show you've never watched, making you feel like you've lost a loved one too.

Yes, we need to see the world through other's eyes to better understand them so we can provide the leadership that they need to perform at their best.

However, the emphasis placed on it in leadership articles published over the past few years makes it difficult for leaders to provide the "tough love" that some people need to improve (because leaders fear being labeled as selfish and uncaring).

BTW - If you've had enough of the nonsense be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel (see link below), where you can find the simple truths that should be shaping your leadership repertoire.
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I'm a top-ranked leadership coach and corporate culture change expert, vision story developer and business transformation specialist. A 7x business author, my leadership podcast The Indispensable Conversation is highly regarded within leadership circles, which provides me the chance to speak at corporate events and conferences.

Do you know what to ignore?


Leaders need to cultivate the skill of discerning what to ignore amidst the constant barrage of information and distractions in today's fast-paced world. 

I teach the folks that I coach how to dvelop this skill because it is crucial avoiding decision paralysis (a common challenge for many Gen X leaders). 

By filtering out irrelevant noise, leaders can allocate their time and resources more efficiently, fostering innovation and productivity within their teams. 

Moreover, knowing what to ignore enables leaders to prioritize tasks that truly align with their vision and values, thus enhancing their effectiveness in steering their organizations towards success. 

In essence, the capacity to discern what to ignore is not merely about filtering out distractions, but rather about honing a strategic mindset that allows leaders to navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.

BTW - You can always DM me for ideas on developing this, or any, necessary leadership skill...I welcome the conversation. 😎 

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

This week's guest on Aha Moments is Ebony Travis Tichenor, MBA, PHR.

Ebony is the Director, Global Wellbeing & HR Employee Policies-Boston Scientific. She is ready to share her Aha Moments with us about her journey in becoming responsible in driving DEI and Employee Well Being at one of the leading biomedical manufacturers in the world.

Join us for this LinkedIn Live event on Thursday, April 4th and Noon ET.

Mentor someone today!


The Power of Informal Mentoring is the subject of this video clip featuring my pal Ebony Travis Tichenor, MBA, PHR. 

It suggests that a Buddy System can be used to help people get better at what they do...In an more informal way than the typical Mentoring Program popularized in the past.

The Power of Informal Mentoring | Indispensable Consulting

Marshall Goldsmith agrees that we must stop blaming others and take charge of our own behavior, while becoming accountable for our own successes and failures.

Unlock Your Motivation Stop Blaming Others | Indispensable Consulting

Buzzwords Suck! 🤣 


As someone who's traversed the seas of management consulting and leadership coaching for what feels like eons, let me tell you: today’s business buzzwords are like the annoying little siblings that our parents forced us to play with when our friends came over to visit. 

You can't ignore them, but you wish they'd stop tagging along and making everything a little less fun than it could be.

Read and subscribe to the latest edition of The Indispensable Thinking Newsletter -- I promise it will give you a laugh, too! 😎 

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I am a top-ranked leadership coach and corporate culture change expert, vision story developer and business transformation specialist. A 7x business author, his leadership podcast The Indispensable Conversation is highly regarded within leadership circles, which makes him a popular speaker at corporate events and conferences.

James Kerr on LinkedIn • 4 min read

Navigating The Business Buzzword Jungle

Here's a nice way to end the week...It's worth a minute for the laugh and there's another important message on leadership and perspective, too!


https://lnkd.in/gVfDrjkZ

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

For Laughs: Boost Your Energy with this Powerful Chant from Mr. Goldsmith | Indispensable Consulting

Authenticity matters!


This video reminds us that the best leaders "Avoid The Say Do Gap" with my guest Joseph Polanin, a retired US Navy Combat Veteran who advised the President of the United States, the National Security Council, and Secretary of Defense on geo-political matters throughout his military career. 

Listen in! 

And, when you watch this short clip, please be sure to hit the "Subscribe" button if you like fresh and insightful leadership content.

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help mid-career leaders (especially GenX and younger ones) achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

Avoid The Say Do Gap | Indispensable Consulting

Vision is an essential leadership trait that you can develop!


It's a trait that I've finely tuned over decades of practice.

In fact, I've made a handsome living helping clients to develop their visionary capabilities -- both through leadership coach and through management consulting.

For example, I wrote this piece for Inc. Magazine in 2015.  

In it, I pointed to 8 emerging trends that business leaders should master in order to be effective in the next decade (i.e., 2020 and beyond).

Looking back at it nearly 10 years later, I'm proud to say I was 8 for 8.

So, how does one become more visionary? 

There are many facets that I work with clients on, let me share just 3 to get you started:

1) ✨ Stay curious about the world around you. ✨  Ask questions, explore diverse perspectives, and seek out new experiences. My willingness to seek-out diverse perspective helped me come up with the list I offered in the article.

2) ✨ Consider how current events and emerging technologies might shape the world in the years to come. ✨  You can't go 8 for 8 by not thinking about the confluence of emerging ideas.

3) ✨ Stay flexible! ✨  Remain open to change and adaptable in your thinking. Recognize that the future is uncertain, and be willing to adjust your plans and strategies as new information emerges. I reshaped these predictions based on the historical evolution of these technologies.

Feel free to DM to learn more on becoming more visionary...Hope to hear from you!

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

https://lnkd.in/dMCMS7uf

If you're the type of leader that prefers fresh insights over buzzwords, you need to subscribe to Indispensable Thinking.

indispensablethinking.substack.com • 1 min read

Indispensable Thinking featuring Jim Kerr | Substack

We See With Our Brains!

This VIDEO SHORT is about the fact that We See With Our Brains. 

BTW - Todd Cherches, author of Visualeadership, and I go deeper into this the topic in this The Indispensable Conversation Podcast episode. 

You should definitely check it out wherever you get your podcasts. 

Also VERY IMPORTANT: Please be sure to click the "SUBSCRIBE" button if you like fresh and insightful leadership content.

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help mid-career leaders (especially GenX and younger ones) achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

We See With Our Brains | Indispensable Consulting

This interview is an "oldie, but, goodie" -- Check it out and subscribe!

https://lnkd.in/eCx577w3


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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

James Kerr: National News Network Expert Guest Spot | Indispensable Consulting

Do you think that you have your head on straight?


Here's one, written for Psychology Today, and it is all about: 

1. Leadership Styles
2. Trust
3. Team Dynamics
4. Communication
5. Empowerment
6. Collaboration
7. Feedback Culture
8. Conflict Resolution
9. Accountability
10. Emotional Intelligence
11. Inclusivity
12. Innovation
13. Risk-taking
14. Adaptability
15. Psychological Safety 
 
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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

https://lnkd.in/eQaaFxxf

psychologytoday.com • 2 min read

Leaders: Don’t Substitute Your Feelings of Fear for Anger

Thank you Robin Porter for reviewing my Executive Coaching service. It was great working with you. To learn more about my work, visit my Service Page.

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Hi! I'm Jim Kerr. I help leaders, especially GenX and younger ones, achieve their objectives by delivering the management consulting and leadership coaching services they need, when they need them.

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