authentic leaders

The single most important factor in an organization’s ability to keep its employees engaged and committed – and to weather times of great economic and technological change – is great leadership. Authentic leadership. Leadership that promotes clarity and purpose and builds teams that are cohesive and lasting.

Moreover, by investing in employees and managers at times when it isn’t required by job markets, an organization can build loyalty and commitment for the future. This is especially important for companies that find themselves losing talent during economic upswings.

Corinthian helps organizations build authentic leaders and the strong leadership practices that support them. We work with senior executives – one-on-one and in groups – to engage in the internal reflection required to become strong leaders and to implement the external changes needed to exhibit their skills. We also work with mid-level and new managers to help them build leadership skills from wherever they are in their careers.

The need for high-quality leadership development isn’t limited to established organizations. As a result, we also specialize in coaching entrepreneurs. Often, our communication training means the difference between selling an idea and failing to secure funding. Our management training and advice frequently enable entrepreneurs to avoid the pitfalls that can spell doom for many less-seasoned leaders.

The following are examples of the services that Corinthian provides to help organizations develop authentic leaders.

executive coaching

• Corinthian’s consultants can act as coaches and advisers to senior executives, helping them build action plans for becoming more authentic, purposeful and transparent leaders.
• Very often, even successful businesspeople have no one they can talk to about their challenges or ideas. An effective coach serve as a consigliere – a confidential thinking partner and advisor.
• For example, a seasoned serial entrepreneur recently engaged Corinthian to coach him through some new challenges in his latest endeavor. The leadership strategies that had served him well in the past weren’t working in his new venture. Over the course of six months, Corinthian helped him develop new ways of leading that allowed him to grow his business and engage at a higher level with his employees.

management development

• One of the biggest challenges facing organizations in the coming decades will be finding and retaining talent. Even in a down economy, the best and brightest will always be difficult to recruit and harder still to keep happy. It is therefore critical for companies to be continually assessing their talent pipeline.
• Corinthian partners with organizations on:
  • Succession planning
• Identifying critical leadership skills (and who has them)
• Assessing and developing existing management talent
• Building a strengths-based management team
• Encouraging leadership and accountability at all levels
• Embracing diverse workforces and leaders
• For example, Corinthian consultants recently advised an $800 million credit union by conducting leadership assessments of its retail marketing managers.

entrepreneurial leadership

• Our founder, Laura Illig, has an MBA in entrepreneurship and is a regular judge at business plan competitions, including the University of Oregon’s nationally renowned New Venture Championship.
• Corinthian often helps entrepreneurs in early-stage and growth-stage companies with marketing planning, resource allocation, presentation skills for fundraising, and overall business strategy.
• In a somewhat unusual example of our flexibility, Corinthian recently coached another successful serial entrepreneur as she began what was for her an entirely new venture – politics. We even helped her organize her ideas by assisting her with speechwriting. The result was that she has been identified by her national party as a regional up-and-comer whose career they will watch.

Above all, however, Corinthian seeks to address the specific challenges faced by each individual client by developing customized solutions to their particular needs. We are always happy to have a no-fee strategic discussion about your organization’s goals and opportunities. Please contact us to discuss how we can help you build the foundations of your success.