About My Work
Process and Character
I provide to senior executives a broad counseling service based on the processes of planning, implementing, and developing leadership for the successful support of business objectives. This service is not restricted by industry or organization size. With a proven Leadership and Management track record and many years of direct experience in both the executive management process and also specifically in information technology leadership, I have a perspective which is crucial to my style, and is quite unusual in other O.D. consultants in I.T.
Extensive experience in handling sensitive or “soft” leadership problems is a strength I provide. The great majority of my client assignments involve structural or organizational problems, marketing strategies, personnel development and education needs, internal political issues, workforce behavioral issues, and increasingly complex interfaces with outside suppliers & Clients of all kinds, as well as internal organizational units I know both the urgency of the bottom line now and the deep relevance of investing in the future. Many consultants have not often had the opportunity to gain good business acumen. I have.
I am committed to a constant review of the literature, research and state of the art solutions for facilitating the growth and capacities of both professionals and future leaders, in a field permeated by dynamic change. I am dedicated to producing practical results within today’s realities for their current responsibilities and the challenges of tomorrow. I know both theory and what works here and now. And, most importantly, I know the difference between the two. I make specific recommendations when needed or requested. I produce memos or letters that are very brief and to the point, and coaching/mentoring that enables and guides, as executives grow into their future.
Principles
Personal and business integrity are the most important factors in all my client relationships.
The success of the client is a measure of my own success.
The right personal chemistry between myself and the client’s staff is crucial to the level of trust and credibility required in the work I do.
Clients do as much of the assignment as is possible with their own staff. In this way, my services are leveraged and client personnel are better prepared to continue facilitating the work.
The proprietary interests of each client are always protected.
I am committed to improving, expanding, and refining my content, approach and style, so that I may continue to provide the most effective, customized developmental support available.
No relationship is accepted unless I feel certain that I can contribute in a unique way, and, I feel attracted to or challenged by the work involved.
Approach
My approach is different. I believe that it is unique. I call it counseling. Facilitating. It is very individualistic, personal and customized. It does not work in some cases. That is always clear very quickly. I act as a professional question-ask-er or issue-raiser. Clients often find this more effective than being “told” or receiving recommendations. The latter is done when useful since there is sometimes a need for the “voice of authority from the outside.” I do both well.
My credentials, network of contacts, and independence from, but knowledge of, internal prejudices permit more objectivity. Often this objectivity allows success in areas consciously or unconsciously denied to the inside executive. I also bring rich personal insights dealing in intuitions or feelings, in addition to proofs or history.
One of my greatest values is to help evolving leaders avoid problems. In this sense I am like an early warning device drawing on specific operational experience and a huge personal network so that the clients may avoid repeating the mistakes of others. However, technical difficulties, personnel issues, and business challenges are already present in most settings today and cannot be avoided. Providing counsel and guidance with these broad challenges is also most welcome and highly effective.
I use phone, voice mail, email and web conversations in addition to rhythmic site visits with intensive meeting structures to stay close to the client’s environment. Very little opportunity for such personalized counsel is afforded via any other consulting service.
Background
Directly responsible for all the Information Systems functions in two large corporations … teacher at several universities … a founding member and former President and Executive Director of the Society for Information Management … member of several Boards of Directors … 47 years in the Information Management business … 35 years as the Senior Executive for Systems & Technology, or counseling at that level.
I spent seventeen years at the First National Bank of Chicago in Retail Banking, Operations, Planning and Systems. For the last four years I was Vice President and Chief Information Officer in charge of a large, highly advanced installation with additional major corporate-wide responsibilities.
Later, for three years as both a Senior Corporate Officer, and the President of a major operating subsidiary of Colonial Penn Group, Inc., I was involved at both the strategic and operational levels, in an intense maturation period of the corporation, responsible for a very large, advanced system and computing site, mail-house, methods function and consulting service.
Degreed in English and Philosophy from Holy Cross with an MBA from the University of Chicago, I graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers, and have attended a number of technological and systems oriented education sessions, as well as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies, the Experience Compression Laboratory and Outward Bound.
Since 1973 I have consulted widely in the United States and Europe; taught at Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and four of the leading graduate schools of banking; have published articles; and I am a recognized speaker both here and abroad.
Engagement Specifics for this Counsel
With continuing clients, billing of fees is done in advance, at a mutually chosen pace. Visit dates are established by mutual consent as far in advance as feasible. Travel expenses are charged as incurred, unless they’re minimal, in which case they’re consolidated. For clients engaged in Forums, the fees are either pre-billed for the entire program, or charged on a retainer basis. My per diem rate is based on the amount of support made available, schedule flexibility, length of program, and of course specific work objectives. It varies by situation up to $3000 per day, often negotiated after a working relationship is established.
