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[ Business | Governmental
Organizations | Non-Profit Organizations | Academia | Families
& Couples | Young People (Future Leaders
Team) | Consultants ]
Testimonials: Business
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“
LaL has been incredibly helpful to me as a CEO and a husband/father
over the past few years.

Throughout my career I have been provided the opportunity to
participate in many leadership development seminars and have read
countless books with a formula for becoming a great leader. Despite
accumulating a vast amount of knowledge, my general leadership style
didn’t change very much. On the surface, that hasn’t
seemed to hurt my career. However, I have come to realize that
certain counterproductive aspects of my style that I built up over
many years were limiting my potential and the potential of our
company. As an example, I now realize just how far I will go to be
right and the impact that has on my co-workers, friends and family.
Instead of creating a space for open dialogue and free exchange of
ideas, when I perceive the threat of being wrong, I will compensate
by diverting to a new topic, debating with people over things that
don’t matter or seeking allies that will agree with me.
Obviously, that isn’t the environment where learning can occur.
I know that, and you know that, but what I didn’t suspect was
how much I do it, why I do it, nor how to change it.

That realization (and many others) was the direct result of a
partnership Encore began with Learning as Leadership (LaL) in late 2005. LaL is an incredibly unique leadership program that has evolved over 25 years of empirical research, training, coaching and consulting.
Many programs describe what leaders should do, but I haven't found another program that helps me understand the root causes of my unhelpful behaviors, and then provides real, useable tools to change them.

They provide the venue, the tools and a termendous amount of support and honesty for you and/or your team.

At our company, the top 20 leaders have gone through their executive program and we have cascaded the methodology
down to another 100 or so leaders through their in-house program, called WeLead. The results
are embedded in our financial returns, which have been quite strong despite the industry and macroeconomic headwinds.
I'm realizing more and more how key business challenges are fraught with people issues, unacknowledged performance gaps and long-standing silos. Our partnership with LaL has led to the dissolution of a number of difficult "Us vs Them" dynamics, namely between IT and
Operations and between different parts of our Collections business, a very significant uptick in our employee engagement numbers over four years ago, and numerous unsolicited comments from new hires about the unprecedented openness in our culture
compared to their previous organizations.

All this is without mentioning the deep satisfaction I've gotten from investing in my team in a way that really
makes a difference in their lives. An employee once wrote me an unsolicited note some time back:

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I
want to genuinely thank you for investing in me and
providing me with the LaL opportunity. In my opinion,
it was the most impactful personal experience that
I've had since my time in the Marines. I've learned
so much about myself and I'm working really hard to
incorporate what I've learned into my daily life.
I am implementing a number of things that I would
have never done prior to LaL. I will work hard to
leverage the experience to its fullest. |
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In
summary, both from personal experience and seeing the benefits
for my team and the company,
I highly recommend LaL.” |
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Brandon Black
CEO
Encore Capital Group |
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“
LaL has been incredibly helpful to me over the past few years as both a leader at work and with my family at home.

I have discovered that I was a person who avoided conflicts at all costs. This made it difficult for me to hold people accountable or for them to know where I really stood. i also realized how wetted I was to being right.

At our company, the top 20 leaders have gone through the executive program, we have cascaded the methodology down to another 100 or so. Since we've started this program, we've experienced significant results.
As individuals, we have shifted from a space of needing to be right to finding the right answer, no matter who came up with it.
We have open dialogues about what has hindered our ability to collaborate and how we can do things differently.
Instead of viewing feedback as something that is dreaded and feared, we welcome it as a positive, learning opportunity. As a compant, we have made incredible financial progress. Our revenues, cash flows and profits have more than doubled
and our stock price, over the last year, outperformed our competitors and the S&P 500 by more than three times.
Our work with LaL allowed us to focus on the things that mattered to grow our business profitably and not waste our time and efforts on turf warfare and interpersonal struggles.

My personal journey with LaL has helped me to clarify my personal and career goals. Had I not overcome my need to be right and my conflict avoidance, I know I could not be nearly as effective
as I am today and the relationships I have with my colleagues and children would not be as productive and close.”
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Paul Grinberg
EVP and CFO
Encore Capital Group |
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Testimonials: Governmental Organizations
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"I came to the
first workshop on my own, and then with key members of my
team. As we clarified and then launched our challenge –
the complete overhaul of the lab infrastructure –
there were many obstacles to overcome: territorial struggles,
stovepipe thinking, etc… As a leader of my peers,
I had no direct authority over a team accustomed to running
their own organization. Together we learned to collaborate
and coordinate as a cohesive unit – not something
we were used to doing!

The LaL training, individual and team coaching, and on-site
facilitation helped us talk about the difficult issues in
a constructive fashion, develop and commit to clear cross-organizational
goals and hold each other accountable for them. LaL gave
us the tools to build trust and challenge each other on
the things we don't follow through on.

Personally, I am reluctant to displease others, and my leadership
style has traditionally been through consensus building.
Working with my coach, I learned how to set a clear direction
and give the stronger leadership that my peers wanted me
to provide. I am now able to fully step into my role as
a leader with creativity and courage." |
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Vice President,
Operations
National Laboratory |
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Testimonials: Non-Profit Organizations
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Testimonials: Academia
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“The LaL training
allowed me to make a fundamental shift in my approach to
my work as a university professor. As I took a hard look
at my behavioral patterns, I realized that I spent a lot
of my work life taking on jobs because they validated my
standing and value, not because they were aligned with my
real aspirations. I soon resented the time they took from
what I considered to be my "real" work, and they
became obligations rather than opportunities. LaL helped
me clarify and recommit to what I want to contribute through
my professional and personal goals, and this has renewed
my energy and enthusiasm for my research and teaching.

My students have responded to my new attitude and approach
with enthusiasm, and we are jointly creating seminars and
research projects that we are deeply excited about.

Instead of complaining about problems at work, I am now
committed to understanding my role in them and how I can
co-create the work environment and meaningful collegial
relationships that I want. These transformations have also
affected my personal life. My husband and I have begun to
clarify our common goals, and the impact on our family relationships
has been very positive.

As a social psychologist, I have been fascinated at the
overlap between the teachings of LaL and the psychological
research literature on people’s essential needs, the
self-esteem system, and the circumstances that encourage
true mastery and relatedness, rather than the illusion of
competence and feelings of superiority. Not only are LaL's
teachings well grounded in empirical research, but they
translate into concrete and lasting change.” |
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Jennifer
Crocker, PhD
Professor of Psychology
University of Michigan
Former President, Society for the Psychological Study of
Social Issues |
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Testimonials: Governmental Organizations
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"I came to the
first workshop on my own, and then with key members of my
team. As we clarified and then launched our challenge –
the complete overhaul of the lab infrastructure –
there were many obstacles to overcome: territorial struggles,
stovepipe thinking, etc… As a leader of my peers,
I had no direct authority over a team accustomed to running
their own organization. Together we learned to collaborate
and coordinate as a cohesive unit – not something
we were used to doing!

The LaL training, individual and team coaching, and on-site
facilitation helped us talk about the difficult issues in
a constructive fashion, develop and commit to clear cross-organizational
goals and hold each other accountable for them. LaL gave
us the tools to build trust and challenge each other on
the things we don't follow through on.

Personally, I am reluctant to displease others, and my leadership
style has traditionally been through consensus building.
Working with my coach, I learned how to set a clear direction
and give the stronger leadership that my peers wanted me
to provide. I am now able to fully step into my role as
a leader with creativity and courage." |
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Vice President,
Operations
National Laboratory |
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top of page
Testimonials: Academia
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“The LaL training
allowed me to make a fundamental shift in my approach to
my work as a university professor. As I took a hard look
at my behavioral patterns, I realized that I spent a lot
of my work life taking on jobs because they validated my
standing and value, not because they were aligned with my
real aspirations. I soon resented the time they took from
what I considered to be my "real" work, and they
became obligations rather than opportunities. LaL helped
me clarify and recommit to what I want to contribute through
my professional and personal goals, and this has renewed
my energy and enthusiasm for my research and teaching.

My students have responded to my new attitude and approach
with enthusiasm, and we are jointly creating seminars and
research projects that we are deeply excited about.

Instead of complaining about problems at work, I am now
committed to understanding my role in them and how I can
co-create the work environment and meaningful collegial
relationships that I want. These transformations have also
affected my personal life. My husband and I have begun to
clarify our common goals, and the impact on our family relationships
has been very positive.

As a social psychologist, I have been fascinated at the
overlap between the teachings of LaL and the psychological
research literature on people’s essential needs, the
self-esteem system, and the circumstances that encourage
true mastery and relatedness, rather than the illusion of
competence and feelings of superiority. Not only are LaL's
teachings well grounded in empirical research, but they
translate into concrete and lasting change.” |
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Jennifer
Crocker, PhD
Professor of Psychology
University of Michigan
Former President, Society for the Psychological Study of
Social Issues |
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Testimonials: Families
& Couples
Organizational learning is
evolving to community learning, where customers, vendors and even
families participate - people from the full spectrum of our lives.
LaL includes young people, spouses and families in its programs,
creating a microcosm of society and lessening the fragmentation
of home and work life so predominant in our culture.
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“I am so grateful for the gift LaL has
given our family. My husband Ernie and our 16 year-old son Jonathan attended Personal
Mastery and it was a huge turning point for us. Thanks to LaL, Jonathan is more
connected to the ways in which he can sabotage himself. He realized that his behavior
was driven by his fear of failure. He started the school year very well. He studies
for hours and even does his laundry once a week!

Jonathans relationship with his father, Ernie, is much better too. LaL helped
them both see that because Ernie grew up in an environment of excellence,
Jonathan felt that he wasnt good enough. Jonathan has recently taken a job
working with his father, which in the past never worked. Its exciting to
see them together in this new relationship.” |
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Irit Weir
Acupuncturist
Acupuncture Climic of Napa |
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Testimonials: Young
People (Future Leaders Team)
LaL is committed to supporting
young people to create healthy, constructive lives. Each year
space is reserved in the 4-Mastery one year leadership
development program for young adults (ages 14 and older) to form
the Future Leaders Team. Young people from diverse backgrounds
and geographical locations come together and learn to function
as a team, working on common projects and supporting each other
on important aspects of their respective lives – at school,
in their relationships and with their families. The 4-Mastery
Program provides them with the forum and the tools to clarify
and implement their goals, preparing them for the future.
As a part of the 4-Mastery Program,
team members learn to commit to their schoolwork – attending
all classes and doing their homework on time. Some have even received
school credit for their participation in the program. Past participants
have achieved better results both in terms of grades, level of
engagement at school and improved relations with their families,
peers and teachers.
Many adolescents today struggle under the
societal pressure to succeed and the peer pressure to fit in.
Some can turn to unhealthy addictions such as TV, video games,
alcohol, drugs, eating disorders, and even violence. LaL provides
today’s youth with tools to be leaders in their own environment,
empowering them to make choices based on their goals rather than
their impulses of the moment.
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“Being part of the
Future Leaders Team has taught me accountability, commitment,
leadership and organization skills, as well as dedication
and compassion. Before, I did not know how to be part of a
team. In just one year the Future Leaders team has become
like family to me. Whether we are working on logistics, relationships
or family problems, we are committed to supporting one another.
Together we are learning, growing, and co-creating our goals.” |
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Student,
22
University of California, Berkeley |
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Testimonials: Consultants
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