| "Kurt
Southam has been a master coach to my company and me personally
for the last 10 years. He has been able to help me keep focused
on my goals and achieving those goals. There have been no
hidden agendas when working with Kurt. He has been the consummate
professional. He has coached and inspired the people in my
organization to be the best that they could be. Most of all
Kurt has coached the best out of me. He has asked questions
so that I could find my own answers.
Kurt has coached
me through three of the toughest transitional periods that
I have experienced, both in my business and my personal life.
His coaching has helped me accelerate the planning and execution
of my company and personal goals. Kurt's sense of humor and
matter of fact manner have been refreshing but always professional.
Kurt has provided me with unconditional support and encouragement
and is one of my biggest cheerleaders, not only when I have
succeeded but also when I have failed. I would recommend him
as one who listens for understanding and challenges to action.
Steve Leavitt is a better person because of my association
with Kurt Southam."
Steve Leavitt
EVP-COO Unishippers Inc
President - CEO Shipping Services Inc.
"It has been my
privilege to spend many hours one-on-one with Kurt Southam
as he coached me through his leadership development program.
Without question I am a more confident and effective business
leader as a result of the principles and skills he taught
me. Kurt's unique ability to blend the academic with his extensive
real-life experience as a business leader is invaluable. His
advice is practical and it works. I also appreciate the fact
that Kurt is always readily available-and prepared-to counsel
with me on any management issue I am grappling with."
Craig A. Adkins
Executive Vice President/COO
Physicians Professional Management Corporation
"In the role of
my executive coach, Kurt Southam quickly moved from consultant
to trusted mentor, advisor and friend. He has been an objective
sounding board during some of the most difficult personnel
decisions of my career."
Marc D, Halley
CEO
Ambulatory Management Services, Inc.
"Study and experience
continue to reinforce the critical role of leadership in organizations.
Subtle flaws in leadership style or competencies that tend
to be passed off as "just human nature" can have a catastrophic
effect on an organizations ability to succeed. Kurt Southam's
executive coaching has been a key factor in my success as
a leader and in the training and coaching I provide to others.
Kurt combines extensive knowledge of organizational development
with incredible insight into personal effectiveness. I have
found that Kurt is able to help leaders identify and deal
with the toughest issues they face as an individual or an
organization (including accountability for their own actions).
I continue to value Kurt as an executive coach as I work to
provide the best possible service to clients and in the development
of my own career."
John Baker, SPHR
Director of Consulting
Sequent
"Having worked
with Kurt Southam, I can honestly say that I know more about
myself than ever before. He has helped me unmask and develop
my weaknesses into strengths that will certainly help me in
my role."
Curtis C. Chastain,
MD, FACP
President
Lake Primary Care Physicians Network
"Kurt Southam
has an unusual ability to establish trust. He listens carefully
to be sure he understands both you and the issue before he
responds. When he responds, his words are helpful and welcome
because of the trust relationship he has cultivated. Kurt
is insightful, and a pleasure to work with."
Nelson C. Meyer
CEO
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio
Anonymous
References
The following
references or testimonials are from clients who wanted to
share their view on the value of the coaching, but due to
the personal or sensitive nature of the issues we were dealing
with, preferred to remain anonymous.
“We had another
key executive who attended the Harvard Executive Development
program to hone her leadership and management skills. I believe
that (client who worked with Southam Consulting) benefited
more from working with you and has learned more practical
leadership skills in three months, than she learned from attending
the Harvard program in six months! We will have additional
opportunities for you in the future!”
CEO
“Just
after three months of working with Kurt, I have been able
to see new opportunities, address them and our results are
exceeding what I thought possible in such a short time. Now
when I work with my executive team we are far more effective
and people contribute in more meaningful ways…all with
the eye on results and contribution. Even my wife and friends
notice that when I come home after a long day, I have more
energy and am eager to tackle the next day!”
"This has been
the most important decision I have made in my life!"
"Kurt Southam is
able to know just what to say or how to respond with just
the right answer that in time proves to the best course of
action. He has an uncanny ability to come up with solutions
that are right on target."
"I recall one tough
situation I had been wrestling with my executive team and
we could not resolve it. Kurt understood the core issue and
adeptly explained the difference between convergent problems
and divergent problems and helped us resolve the issue on
the spot. This is just one example of many valuable experiences
and ah ha's I had working with Kurt."
"Kurt is multi-lingual.
He can speak the language of the senior executive, understand
the issues of the small business owner, and relate well to
the front line employee. He is trusted by all who work with
him."
"I should have
terminated a vice president that had been with us for 20 years.
I agonized over the decision and kept putting it off. Without
the coaching and able help of Kurt, I don't think I could
have done what I should have done a long time ago. Just as
with other things Kurt predicted, he was right on this one
and within a few weeks my executive team saw the value of
this decision."
"At the beginning
of one coaching session, I shared with Kurt a situation where
a peer had done something to cause me to view him as less
than admirable to say the least. I concluded that he was the
villain and I was the innocent victim.or so I wanted to believe
anyway. Through careful dialogue Kurt helped me see my role
in the situation and helped me accept responsibility for certain
actions. I eventually met with this peer and had a crucial
conversation and our relationship is stronger than ever. Kurt
Southam helped me work through the issue to resolution, and
did not let me off the hook regarding personal accountability
in the situation."
"I was wrestling
with a tough decision of who should be my successor as CEO
($500,000,000 annual sales) with two key candidates. Kurt
met with and assessed each of my key staff. He helped coach
me through the important questions and considerations. Much
was riding on this decision. Fortunately I went with his recommendation
and this decision has proven to be the right way to go. Now
two years later, this new CEO has performed admirably."
The following
is a case study of an extended coaching relationship that
included the senior team.
Southam Consulting
coached a CEO at intermittent times over a period of 12 years.
The CEO expanded the coaching to include each of his direct
reports. We spent time every other week with each of the executive
team in one-on-one coaching. We were able to identify and
resolve many issues to help each person move to the next level
of effectiveness. They appreciated the flexibility of this
tailored developmental approach. Each vice president asked
to have the coaching continue after the first six months.
Some of those coached indicated that this had a positive impact
on their financial performance.
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