At Dark Matter, we offer a variety of solutions to help you and your team to become better leaders.

EXECUTIVE COACHING

First, we offer one-on-one Executive Coaching. Each engagement typically lasts six to 12 months, is fully customized to the client’s and the organizations needs, and includes the following:

• An assessment and / or interviews with key stakeholders
• Debrief of assessment and goal-setting
• Announcement of goals to stakeholders (primes them to see change and enrolls them in the process)
• Ongoing coaching to remove obstacles, provide support and accountability, and lock in progress towards the goals
• Review of progress and ongoing development plan

While Executive Coaching engagements typically focus upon professional developmental goals, such as improved time / priority management, conflict resolution, and strategic vision-setting, our clients have noticed that the skills and attitudes they gain through this program also help with the rest of their lives as well.

“So, what exactly is coaching and how does it work?” you might ask.

Good question! Here’s how I do it. You tell me what you want to do, I ask focused questions that help you to clarify:

1. the goal itself, as well as
2. your attitudes, beliefs and feelings about that goal, not to mention
3. how you would know if you actually succeeded in realizing it (you would be surprised how many people struggle with that one).

I help you change your thoughts, emotions, beliefs, perspectives and judgments, which changes how you act and react, and therefore the results you get. Lastly, since change can be difficult and can take time, I offer accountability and support through the process. I know that you are capable of amazing feats, and I won’t let you sell yourself short out of fear or laziness.

Clear enough? If not, maybe a metaphor can help. In this relationship, you are the hero or heroine, I am the spooky guy behind the scenes. You are Arthur; I am Merlin. You are Luke Skywalker; I am Obi-Wan. You are Buffy the Vampire Slayer; I am Giles the Watcher. You are Simba the Lion-King; I am Rafiki the advisor-monkey. Hopefully that helps. Even if it doesn’t it was fun for me to write! Here are links to blog posts and articles that discuss coaching.

• Harvard Business School discusses Executive Coaching
• NPR Story “Elite Athletes have Coaches, Why Not Everyone Else?
• I blog about an article by Cleve Stevens in Fortune
• I blog about Mike Edwards in Fox News
• The International Coach Federation (ICF) has their own definitions here (I am also a certified member of the ICF)
• Fast Company Magazine discusses Coaching

WORKSHOPS

We offer in person, instructor-led workshops on a variety of topics, including:

• Time Management and Priority-Setting
• Conflict Resolution
• Strategic Planning
• Values-Based Leadership
• Creativity and Innovation

Based on more than 15 years of teaching and training experience, we have developed a proprietary system known as Right Brain Training. This system increases uptake by the participants by:

• Creating compelling, emotional and values-based to adopt the new behavior
• Addressing possible sources of resistance to the new behavior
• Establishing a system of ongoing support and accountability to reinforce the new behavior until it “takes root” and survives on its own

Because we have found that the standard “one-and-done” corporate training often fails to yield sustainable change, we like to present training as a series of two to five shorter presentations, typically 60-120 minutes (a “lunch and learn,” for example), spread over a number of weeks.

We have found that this significantly increases the adoption of the new behavior, and thus, the return on the client’s investment. Put another way, you don’t learn to play a musical instrument by seeing it demonstrated in class, and then trying it once or twice. You learn by practicing new techniques every day, and reporting back to a teacher or partner until it becomes second nature. That’s what we offer.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Dave presents keynotes, breakouts, and webinars on a variety of topics (see below for examples). He has presented for Georgetown University and the University of Chicago, Chambers of Commerce, Rotary International, The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois and the Lions Club. Dave also hosted launched Ignite Chicago and hosted it twice.

Topics:

• How to Be Extraordinary
• Productivity in the EMail Age
• Sacred Leadership
• The Case for Magical Thinking
• Why Emotions & Values Matter in Business
• How to Get a Job Without A Resume