JAY DESKO, PH.D.

Jay Desko, Ph.D., Executive Director, Consultant - The Center Consulting and Leadership Coaching for Businesses, Non-Profits, and Churches

President & CEO

Jay is the President and 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 & University. Contact Jay. 

VIDEOS
Leadership: How to Be a World Class Boss [VIDEO]

Want to be the kind of leader people talk about at dinner in a good way? Here’s how to become a world-class boss in 7 steps.

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Blind Spots: How to Identify & Avoid Blind Spots in Your Organization [VIDEO]

All organizations have blind spots, and when they go unchecked, they can cause a catastrophic event. Here’s how to identify and avoid blind spots in your organization.

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Recruiting & Retaining “Mature” Team Members [VIDEO]

In the movie “The Intern,” Robert De Niro is a retired executive who rejoins the workforce as a senior intern. This may sound like a story made just for the movies, but it matches our reality today. With the population aging and not enough young people to fill the available positions in the workforce, leaders are going to have to be creative to fill in the gaps. Here’s how.

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Decision-Making: Why Smart Leaders Do Dumb Things [VIDEO]

There are a lot of examples of people who are perhaps smart, but not smart all the time. Here are five reasons smart leaders sometimes do dumb things.

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Focus or Flounder: How to Leverage Concentrated Effort for Maximum Performance

While it may seem like spreading your focus out will increase your leadership, it actually takes away from your effectiveness. Here are five ways you can focus your energy and intention to be the most effective leader you can be.

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Change: How to Lead Change Effectively

Leading change isn’t easy, just ask any leader. But successful leaders will tell you that the risk is worth it. Here are six principles for leading change effectively.

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Decision-Making: 4 Aspects of Making Great Decisions [VIDEO]

Don’t you wish you could have your own Magic 8-Ball that would tell you how to make the perfect decision? Although that isn’t possible, here are four time-tested aspects of decision-making that leaders can focus on to make great decisions.

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Succession Planning: How to Prepare for Leaders Leaving [VIDEO]

We are told to prepare for getting hit by the proverbial "bus." But in reality, something far more common may cause a gap in leadership and put our organizations at risk - illness, accident, quitting, or retirement. Here are four steps to help you prepare for succession when a key leader leaves.

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Delegation: How Wise Leaders Delegate Effectively [VIDEO]

Have you ever felt like a magnet where more and more things stick to you as you go through your day? You either fail to give things away, or tasks that others should have done land on you? Here are five steps to help you delegate wisely and effectively.

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Trust: 3 Actions that Build Trust [VIDEO]

Why do we let a pilot, whom we have never met, fly us across the country at 35,000 ft in air? It all has to do with trust. Trust is one of the foundational elements in organizational life. Here are three actions that will help you build trust in your life and leadership.

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Leadership: 3 Ways to Lead Well [VIDEO]

There are examples of bad leadership all around us. Unfortunately, we can’t change others, but we can make improvements in our own leadership. Watch this video to learn three simple ways to lead well.

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BLOG POSTS
7 Signs You Are Working with a Humble Leader

Not every confident leader is humble. But the best ones are. Here are seven ways to tell when humility is at work in a leader.

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6 Reasons Leaders Have Trouble Acknowledging Mistakes

Why is it so hard for leaders to admit when they are wrong? Here are six reasons leaders resist owning mistakes.

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Generational Dynamics in the Workplace [VIDEO]

For the first time in history, the U.S. workforce is evenly represented by four generations. In this discussion, our team explores how leaders can improve communication, culture, and performance across age groups.

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How Leaders Can Prepare for AI and Other Business-Altering Changes

Our culture is changing rapidly. Here are 7 practical ways leaders can help themselves and their teams adapt to the constant flow of disruptors like AI.

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Get Smart: 6 Ways to Acquire the Wisdom Needed to Lead Through Complexity

Leaders today are facing extraordinary circumstances including disruptions, polarization, and shortages. But the good news is that wisdom can be learned. Here is how you can better lead through complexity.

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4 Steps to Becoming a More Courageous Leader

Have you ever walked away from a meeting wishing you had spoken up? You’re not alone. Here are 4 steps to grow your courage as a leader.

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Warning Flags: Signals That Reveal the Health of Your Organization

Your employees already know the true health of your organization. Do you? Here are the key signals to look for and the actions you can take.

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Want to Get Things Done? Sharpen Your Influence with These 5 Practices

Leadership can be hard, but it gets easier when people want to follow you. Here are 5 things you can do to earn that kind of influence.

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The University of Pain: 5 Ways Leaders Enroll & What It Takes to Successfully Graduate

No one signs up for the University of Pain, but every leader eventually attends. Here are the top five ways people enter it, and what it takes to successfully graduate.

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How to Build a Business, Lead with Faith, & Let Go Well [VIDEO]

How do you build a business without losing what matters most? Mike and Heidi Sterlacci share their journey of building CoVerica, staying grounded in their faith, and preparing the next generation to lead.

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6 Actions That Help Backpackers Survive and Leaders Thrive

What do hiking the Grand Canyon and leading an organization have in common? More than you think. From planning well to showing humility, here are six traits that help both backpackers survive and leaders thrive. 

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5 Reasons You Need Your Enterprise to Be Profitable

Profit isn't a bad word. It helps you guard against uncertainty and care for your people. Here are 5 reasons profitability is critical for your enterprise (and no, a new boat isn’t one of them).

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Is Your Boss Bad… or Just Imperfect? How to Work with Flawed Leaders

Not every frustrating boss is toxic. Some are just human. Here’s how to work with a boss who’s flawed but not destructive.

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Bigger Is Not Always Better: 5 Ways Organizations Can Utilize Their Smallness as a Strength

Being small means you can move faster and stay customer-focused. Here are five ways that your organization's small size can be a strength. 

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Insecurity Doesn’t Retire: 6 Signs of an Insecure Leader Regardless of Age

Even after decades of leadership, insecurity can still linger beneath the surface. No matter how long you’ve been leading, here are 6 signs it may be influencing your leadership without you even realizing it.

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When Helping Harms: How Well-Intentioned Leaders Can Produce Unhelpful Outcomes

The line between support and sabotage is thinner than we think. Here are four ways well-intentioned leaders might be doing more harm than good.

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Want Motivated Employees? Start by Doing These 6 Things

“Where do I find motivated employees?” We hear this question all the time. It starts with how you lead. Here are 6 actions that will help you build a motivated team. 

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The Power of Speech: 4 Ways a Leader’s Words Can Change Lives

Our words are powerful. Just one phrase said at the right time can completely shift the course of someone's life. Here are 4 stories that show the power of a leader’s words.

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Leadership: How to Be a World Class Boss [VIDEO]

Want to be the kind of leader people talk about at dinner in a good way? Here’s how to become a world-class boss in 7 steps.

Read More →
The Leadership Shortage: Are Leaders Causing Their Own Crisis?

It’s easy to blame culture or demographics for the leadership gap, but the real issue might be in the corner office. Here’s how leaders may be contributing to the crisis and what to do about it.

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6 Critical Infrastructures Every Leader Would Be Wise to Guard

When infrastructure fails, chaos follows. The same is true for your business. Are you protecting these six key areas?

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How to Get Control of Self-Doubt & Rebuild Your Confidence

Feeling the weight of self-doubt? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay there. Here are practical ways to take back control and rebuild the confidence you need to move forward.

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The Young Leader’s Playbook: 6 Steps to Accelerate Your Growth

You don’t have to wait years to make an impact. If you’re a young professional ready to grow, these six steps will help you accelerate your growth and lead with confidence, starting today.  

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6 Leadership Lessons from the Legacy of Winston Churchill

Many achieve success for the moment, but only a few build a legacy that outlives them. So, what makes the difference? Here are six leadership lessons from Winston Churchill’s lasting legacy.  

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6 Scary Behaviors that May Be Lurking in the Life of Every Leader

Every leader has shadows – those dark places that hide the least desirable parts of who we are. Here are 6 scary behaviors that can often be found lurking in the shadows of any leader.

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What a California Wildfire Can Teach Us About Organizational Culture

We have seen the devastation wildfires can cause - but what about the damage from a culture wildfire in your organization? Here are seven lessons from real wildfires that can help you prevent and contain culture fires before they consume your team.

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Why Didn’t You Say So? 7 Reasons Why Communication Is So Difficult

Miscommunication is more than just frustrating; it can derail teams, projects, and relationships. Here are 7 factors that make communication tricky and how you can overcome them.

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9 Ways to Tame Your Organizational Rules & Policies

A rule-heavy workplace communicates distrust, fuels dissatisfaction, and sends top performers packing. Here are nine ways to tame the rules in your organization.

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Fresh Starts: Launching 2025 Strong, Focused, & Hopeful

Whether last year was your best, your worst, or somewhere in between, we all do well with fresh starts. Here are practical steps to help you start your year strong, focused, and hopeful.

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7 Signs You Might Be Working with a Grinch

Is there a Grinch at work? From leading from fear to taking pleasure in others’ failures, the Grinch’s traits are all too familiar. Here are 7 signs you might be working with a Grinch – or maybe you are the Grinch.

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PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Generational Dynamics in the Workplace [VIDEO]
Generational Dynamics in the Workplace [VIDEO]

For the first time in history, the U.S. workforce is evenly represented by four generations. In this discussion, our team explores how leaders can improve communication, culture, and performance across age groups.

Read More →
How to Build a Business, Lead with Faith, & Let Go Well [VIDEO]
How to Build a Business, Lead with Faith, & Let Go Well [VIDEO]

How do you build a business without losing what matters most? Mike and Heidi Sterlacci share their journey of building CoVerica, staying grounded in their faith, and preparing the next generation to lead.

Read More →
Current Trends Leaders Are Facing [VIDEO]
Current Trends Leaders Are Facing [VIDEO]

Our consultants explore the dynamic nature of trends leaders are facing today. From the urgency of succession planning amidst demographic shifts to the evolving impact of AI, they discuss into how leaders can adapt and thrive in an era of constant change.

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The Most Important Traits of Effective Leaders [VIDEO]
The Most Important Traits of Effective Leaders [VIDEO]

Everyone wants to know that magic formula for what makes a great leader. Listen as our experienced consultants discuss traits of effective leaders, obstacles that can hinder their success, and how targeted coaching can be used to develop leaders.

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Navigating the Challenges of a Family-Owned Business [VIDEO]
Navigating the Challenges of a Family-Owned Business [VIDEO]

Here are the biggest challenges family businesses face, the mistakes they often make, what contributes to healthy dynamics, and how to improve the likelihood of a successful succession.

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Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life [VIDEO]
Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life [VIDEO]

Approaching retirement can cause both anxiety and excitement as people think about what the second half of their life will look like. Here’s what causes the fear, what changes to expect, and what questions to ask as you approach retirement.

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Why You Should Start Planning for Succession Now [VIDEO]
Why You Should Start Planning for Succession Now [VIDEO]

There are 10,000 people turning 65 every day in the U.S. This means there are leaders from every type of organization who will eventually need to hand over the reins of leadership to their successor. Here’s why some leaders avoid succession planning, when you should start, and how to do it successfully.

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Trust Is Declining: Here’s How to Rebuild It [VIDEO]
Trust Is Declining: Here’s How to Rebuild It [VIDEO]

Trust in many forms of authority has been deeply eroding. Listen as our consultants discuss the state of trust today, how leaders should approach the lack of trust, and how to begin rebuilding it.

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How to Handle Stress & Burnout at Work [VIDEO]
How to Handle Stress & Burnout at Work [VIDEO]

Stress is a silent epidemic that has a measurable negative impact. Listen as our experienced consultants discuss how stress expresses itself and what leaders can do to address it.

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How Emotional Intelligence Enhances Leadership [VIDEO]
How Emotional Intelligence Enhances Leadership [VIDEO]

We have seen many leaders fail or not reach their potential because they could not relate well to others. This is often referred to as lacking emotional intelligence or EQ. Here’s how to strengthen your EQ.

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How to Attract & Retain Employees [VIDEO]
How to Attract & Retain Employees [VIDEO]

40% of employees are at least somewhat likely to leave their current job in the next 3–6 months. Here are the most important things you can do to attract and retain top talent.

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Managing Conflict in the Workplace [VIDEO]
Managing Conflict in the Workplace [VIDEO]

Conflict feels like it is everywhere right now, and many leaders are spending an excessive amount of time resolving conflict among their staff and customers. Listen as our consultants talk about the conflict trends they are seeing and how to best manage conflict in the workplace.

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Cultivating a Positive Culture [VIDEO]
Cultivating a Positive Culture [VIDEO]

One thing that sets a great organization apart from an average one is culture. Culture influences employee retention, talent attraction, and organizational resilience. Listen as our experienced consultants discuss tips for cultivating a positive culture in your organization.

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