Our Team
David Simmonds
Prior
to forming my own consulting firm four years ago, I spent 20 years as a senior
practitioner in the Organizational Performance and Change Management practices
of two global consulting firms. As a consequence, I have been exposed to the
people, organizational cultures and operating dynamics of a very broad range
of enterprises in both the public and private sectors. These include; IT services
companies, manufacturers, energy and resource companies, telecommunications
companies, provincial and municipal governments, professional services firms
and clients in the tourism, health care, and education sectors.
My focus is on helping my clients:
- develop leaders at every level, by strengthening their leadership DNA
- lead and manage change, taking their organizations from good to great
- build high-performing teams
It is not what you are going to do, but it's what you are doing now that counts.
Owing my own business has taught me many things -- what it takes to meet payroll, to attract and retain customers and to lead in a way that has enabled me to engage and retain the talent needed to compete and win. As a consequence, I believe I understand leadership and organizational behavior in both theory and in practice.
My Passion Is Leadership Development
I am passionate about leadership development, teaching, coaching and mentoring leaders. Over the past 10 years, over 1,500 executives, managers and supervisors have participated in the leadership workshops that I have designed and facilitated.
Leadership is the scarcest resource in the world today!
Leadership is as different from management as accounting is from piano playing.
Most of our organizations are over-managed and under-led. As a consequence they achieve satisfactory under-performance.
We need to develop leaders who have the commitment and competence to:
- rebuild trust in their organization;
- restore hope and create a sense of meaning in peoples lives;
- build a sense of community; and
- bring joy and fun into the workplace.
It doesn't happen all at once, you become. Learning about leadership, and working with a coach can help you develop a leadership legacy you will be proud of.
My Training
I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the thought leaders in the executive development and change management field. They are Dr. John Kotter and Dr. Jack Gabarro, both professors at the Harvard Business School, and Darryl Connor, founder of ODR Inc. My formal training includes the following:
- University of Alberta, Bachelor of Arts
- Certified Management Consultant
- Graduate of certification programs, National Training Laboratories
- Certified to teach the Blanchard Group of Companies programs, including Situational Leadership II, and Building High-Performing Teams.
- Leadership Development programs with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Ernst & Young LLP.
Interests
My interests are my grandchildren and the rest of my family. Then there is reading, travel, mountain biking, hiking and politics.
