5 Lessons from 20 Years of Consulting & Coaching

Twenty years ago, we launched what is now called The Center Consulting Group! We started in January 2002 with our first two clients and have now served over 800 churches, values-centered businesses and nonprofits, and leaders who desire to be better and stronger. We have helped pastors stay in the race, assisted organizations in overcoming complex challenges, walked business owners through succession, and coached individuals to lead with humility and courage. And just this summer, we made our first strategic investment in the next generation of leaders with our Emerging Leaders Initiative.

As I reflect on the past 20 years, here are a few of the lessons I have learned.

1. Wise leaders really do seek guidance.

The Center team often refers to Proverbs 15 where the writer notes that wise people seek counsel. And over the past 20 years, we have seen evidence of this truth. So many of the exceptional leaders with whom we have served are not afraid of guidance; they humbly desire it.

2. Great performance grows out of great teams.

The Center started with a VERY SMALL staff of two part-time people. It has since grown to a team of 20 full-time and part-time staff. And the growth and success we have experienced is a direct result of this team which is unified, skilled, and a whole lot of fun!

3. Generosity is a catalyst for impact.

Over these past 20 years, our supporters have provided us with almost $1.6 million dollars to help us provide services to nonprofit organizations and churches who cannot afford the full cost. We would never have been able to impact almost 6,000 leaders and those clients would not have become what they are without such generosity!

4. Growth requires risks.

Talk with the founders of any organization, and they will all tell you the same thing: the growth of their organization required both risk and faith. There is no such thing as risk-free growth or new initiatives. Every leader/entrepreneur has felt the angst that comes from making decisions that can be so strategic but can also just as easily fail. No risk results in no growth.

5. Clients often become lifelong friends.

Some of the people our consultants have served are no longer just “clients.” They are friends, and these friendships have lasted far beyond the work we do on their behalf. All of us appreciate being treated in a personal way and not being viewed as a “contract” or “payment” but rather as a unique individual and friend.

We are excited about the future! We are honored and thankful for the privilege to walk alongside every one of our clients.

Our Clients Over 20 Years

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Types of Clients We Have Served

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• Services We Provide

  Leadership Coaching
  Leadership assessment, personalized development, encouragement, and accountability

  Leader & Staffing Assessment
  Tools for learning, development, and growth

  Team Development
  Personalized training focused on the dynamics of healthy and high-performing teams

  Crisis Guidance
  Outside perspective providing professional advice during stressful times

  Personalized Coaching Retreats
  1-3 day retreat providing clarity and direction based on a leader’s identified needs and goals

  Staffing Guidance
  Guidance during every step of staffing transitions and selection of new staff members

  Human Resource Guidance
  Assistance in clarifying policies, procedures, organizational charts, and performance reviews

  Strategic Action Planning
  Support in discerning the present health of an organization and defining strategic priorities for the future

  Succession Planning
  Guidance in planning for effective short and long-term leadership succession

  Board/Owner Advising
  Confidential and professional advice and objective perspective for owners and boards

  Communications & Marketing Advising
  Assistance in creating compelling communication and effective messaging and marketing

  New Market Assessment & Development
  Assistance with evaluating new markets and developing and implementing effective strategies to pursue opportunities

  Merger/Acquisition Guidance & Coaching
  Guidance in evaluating M&A opportunities and having strategic conversations regarding successful organizational alignment

Contact us to learn how our team of consultants and coaches can help you to lead well.

Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.