Leaders practice leadership, just as physicians practice medicine. Here are some details.
Health Care Consulting and Leadership Coaching
We understand the challenges that executive leaders and physicians face. We are experts in individual and organizational behavioral change. Since 1997, we have consulted with hundreds of leaders using the 3A process of (1) assessment, (2) constructive actions, (3) accountability. Our purpose is to help leaders flourish as they achieve business outcomes.
Theoretical models
1. Positive psychology (PP) can be defined as the science and practice of well-being or flourishing. Prior to 1998, over 70% of psychological research focused on mental illness. Since 1998, a better balance has resulted from new scientific studies in mental health.
2. Psychological capital (PsyCap) is a developmental state comprised of hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. Our research confirms that PsyCap can be developed, and explains up to 71% of engagement scores and 65% of job satisfaction scores.
Value to you • Modeling evidence-based practices in behavior change • providing a confidential assessment of individuals and teams • adding a third party, objective, supportive perspective to your leadership team • increasing accountability of each leader’s personal and professional goals • improving specific skills related to each leader’s role, such as supervisory or managerial skills, interpersonal communication, executive presence, conflict resolution, productivity • sharing world-class techniques from superb organizations that have done similar work • reviewing strategic business decisions related to operations, customer service, marketing, management or financials • being a sounding board for communication issues • preventing problems, thereby avoiding more expensive, time consuming or embarrassing actions • supporting each leader’s growth past any limiting beliefs
Our scope of services Individual executive leadership coaching typically requires at least 6 months of engagement for over 40 hours. All coaching service levels include an intake session, individual quantitative and qualitative assessments, 360 interviews, written behavioral action plans, milestone meetings with stakeholders, constructive actions, and accountability. We have a network of executive coaches throughout the U.S. All consulting and coaching services are guaranteed.
Your expected outcomes Develop leadership capacity in areas that are key to each leader’s success
Drive organizational performance through tactical execution, deliberate practice of desired behaviors, and focused strategic thinking
Leverage each leader’s strengths and mitigate risks, so that each leader can increase the probability of achieving key organizational outcomes
Increase retention of desired leaders
Our clients have experienced up to 1,200% return on investment, up to 60% increase in productivity, and up to 300% revenue growth. There are 100+ client testimonials at www.action-learning.com and on social media. Your outcomes need to be defined.
Your next steps For products and services visit us a twww.action-learning.com/action-leadership-store/ or here
To schedule a meeting or conversation contact: Doug Gray, PCC here or call 615.905.1892
The bottom line Action leads to learning. All leaders require executive coaching at times. Your most critical investment is to retain your desired employees.
What are you waiting for?
Download this list of services and investment levels now:
Today, the morning after, I have had three sessions with leaders who represent the division and polarity of our country. One is an EVP in technology, born in India, whose 14-year old son is afraid to go to school today because he is Muslim. One is a female senior manager in healthcare who voted for Trump even though she sees him as yet-one-more sexist bully in a patriarchal system with a double standard. One is a director at a F100 who does not knowhow to respond to the rumors in his organization. Notice the fears from each of these leaders?
Consider 3 lessons:
Timing. Coaches focuses on the now and the future, by definition. So when should coaches encourage leaders to act on their convictions? Assume that 50% of the people you meet today are delighted because Trump won, and 50% are sad because Clinton lost. Further assume that within each group 50% are hopeful that the election will lead to a better future, and the other 50% are frightened or uncertain. In short, only 25% of the populace is hopeful because their person won, and 75% are uncertain, sad or fearful. Positive psychology coaching requires that we 1) define a hopeful future state and 2) act toward that hopeful future.
Possible actions: Celebrate your freedoms, TODAY, with your loved ones. Plant a garden. Pick up your children early from school. Call your loved ones. Model a hopeful future, with others, immediately. Leaders model a better future. Great leaders model a better future more frequently than average leaders. TODAY is the best day to model your leadership capacity.
Precedent. For the first time in U.S. history we have a president elect with no experience in the military, and no experience in political office. Trump will require executive coaching. Experienced leaders will need to teach him how to be a great president. Who will share that expertise? If business leaders or political leaders withhold information, or drive agendas that further their best interests, then history will teach us some negative lessons. The pollsters and Washington, DC-based media underestimated the voters. What does that fact mean? There is no precedent for coaching Trump. His advisors demonstrated mastery with the media and attack ads. Does that fact imply that leaders should tolerate foul language in our families, schools and organizations?
Possible actions: Take a stand for your core values, whatever they are. Share hope and optimism with others. Discuss the balance of power in the U.S. constitution, and the global influence of decision-making. Re-read Jefferson’s opinion that revolutions prevent despots from dominating. Model ethical leadership in your organization, family, or schools.
Embrace change. We just elected another candidate who is thought to represent change. What does that really mean? No one likes to be changed. Yet all leaders like to make changes. At a recent conference I heard a perspective that may be useful. We may complain about the rate of change, especially technologically-driven change that reduces jobs with automation or transparent access to data. However, the rate of change, TODAY, is slower than it will ever be for the rest of your life. As coaches of leaders, that fact implies that if we embrace change, TODAY, then we will be better prepared to embrace other changes tomorrow. How can it be otherwise?
Possible actions: Talk to someone from a different racial, economic or political group and listen carefully to their concerns. That is what coaches do. Hire a coach or ask someone to be your mentor. Select a mentor who is younger, or quite different. Then listen carefully. Assess your psychological capital (Psy Cap). We are a resilient species. When we embrace change from multiple perspectives then we model a more united states.
So, what are you going to do TODAY?
Contact your coach today. Or your clients.
Then let me know what you choose to do TODAY. Contact Us.
To you, at your best, Doug Gray, PCC, call me at 615.905.1892.
What are you waiting for?
Download this list of services and investment levels now:
Doug Gray, PhD PCC, is an expert Family Wealth Advisor, leadership consultant, champion for Next Gen leaders, and teacher.
Yes, this headshot was AI-generated because his family said he needed to show his grey hair…
Consulting Experience
Doug helps business leaders accelerate their succession planning and legacy goals, with less conflict or confusion.
He says, “We are all concerned about our wealth. We are all in transition. We all struggle with decision making. We all seek advice.”
Doug focuses on the “People Side” of family wealth because his clients deserve both the art of expertise and the science of data. He typically collaborates with multidisciplinary teams of advisors who add financial, legal, and insurance expertise.
In 2024 he developed an AI-assisted performance feedback communication coaching solution at www.JITCoach.com that enables leaders to practice communication skills and reduce conflict or anxiety.
What about you and your loved ones? What do you need next?
Doug knows that leaders need to practice leadership, just as physicians practice medicine and attorneys practice law. Leaders need artful consulting. We need to Practice Leadership. So, where do you start?
He and his teams have a track record of 100% client satisfaction and guaranteed results since 1997 with thousands of clients in multiple business sectors (e.g., manufacturing, finance, retail, technology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, insurance, investments).
Many are family-owned business leaders, owners and managers.
Doug provides expertise to business leaders during their transitions. Specifically, he assesses individual and team strengths and gaps and recommend behaviors that enable leaders to avoid pain, and to flourish. See his 360 assessment at www.AssessNextGen.com
Why focus on family wealth advising? Doug says, “My parents and family have been critical to all of my success, and to my nuclear family, and families are the lifeblood of positive social change. In every corner of the world. And in every business sector. What could be a more critical focus?”
His recent leadership consulting work has led to: 1) the 360-assessment consulting process described at www.AssessNextGen.com for license and leaders, 2) the customized content and digital solutions described at Family-Wealth-Network.com, 3) his recent books “Legacy Locked” (2025) and “The Success Playbook for Next Gen Family Business Leaders” (2024) (see the list below), and 4) a hybrid coaching solution at www.JITCoach.com that uses both customized AI and expert performance coaches to help leaders develop essential communication skills.
Doug would love the opportunity to learn more about you, your family, your business, your vision, and your challenges. Please schedule a mutually convenient time using this link: https://calendly.com/doug-gray/intro-call
He would say, “Here’s to you, At Your Best.” I help business leaders accelerate their succession planning and legacy goals, with less conflict or confusion. We are all concerned about our wealth. We are all in transition. We all struggle with decision making. We all seek advice. I focus on the “People Side” of family wealth because my clients deserve both the art of expertise and the science of data. I typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of advisors who add financial, legal, and insurance expertise. Recently, we have developed an AI-assisted performance feedback communication coaching solution at JITCoach.com that enables leaders to practice communication skills and reduce conflict or anxiety. What about you and your loved ones? What do you need next? We know that leaders need to practice leadership, just as physicians practice medicine and attorneys practice law. Leaders need artful consulting. So, where do you start? We have a track record of 100% client satisfaction and guaranteed results since 1997 with thousands of clients in multiple business sectors (e.g., manufacturing, finance, retail, technology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, insurance, investments). Many are family-owned business leaders, owners and managers. We provide expertise to business leaders during their transitions. Specifically, we assess individual and team strengths and gaps and recommend behaviors that enable leaders to avoid pain, and to flourish. Why? My parents and family have been critical to all of my success, and to my nuclear family, and families are the lifeblood of positive social change. In every corner of the world. And in every business sector. My recent leadership consulting work has led to: 1) the 360-assessment consulting process described at AssessNextGen.com, 2) the customized content and digital solutions described at Family-Wealth-Network.com, 3) my recent books “Legacy Locked” (2025) and “The Success Playbook for Next Gen Family Business Leaders” (2024), and 4) a hybrid coaching solution at JITCoach.com that uses both customized AI and expert performance coaches to help leaders develop essential communication skills. I would love the opportunity to learn more about you, your family, your business, your vision, and your challenges. Please schedule a mutually convenient time using this link: https://calendly.com/doug-gray/intro-call Here’s to you “At Your Best,” Doug Gray
Top skillsTop skills
360 Assessments • Strategic Consulting • Conflict Management • Family wealth • Leadership Development360 Assessments • Strategic Consulting • Conflict Managment • Family wealth • Leadership Development
Business Consulting • Management Consulting • Change Management • Executive Coaching • Leadership Development • Training • Team Building
A representative list of leadership coaching engagements include:
CFO and 20 leaders in finance and accounting, Fortune 500 energy construction company, who needed to embrace a redesign without losing productivity
team of EVPs tasked with redesigning the IT needs of their F100 healthcare company
MD struggling with burnout who needed confidential consulting (e.g. anonymity from his employer and insurer)
CEO in a technology company recently promoted to replace the founder
President and 18 members of executive leadership team, Fortune 500 energy construction company, who needed to demonstrate alignment within 6 months
SVP and site managers at a nuclear power construction site who needed to increase alignment with business partners and avoid negative media
SVP in functional but de-centralized group who needed to assimilate 20 leaders, using action learning methodology in direct meetings, coaching, and SharePoint to drive accountability
Small business owner of a franchise who needed to fire an employee after 11 years of good service
SVP, global bank, who needed to reorganize a division
VP, global bank, seeking career opportunities
newly hired VP who needed to develop radical transformation of a functional group that required external coaching and team building leadership training using a customized app
Newly promoted director who lacked interpersonal skills to manage 33 people
Founder of an IT company who was not able to develop new business
Business/Organizational Leadership Experience
Doug has been a successful business owner since 1997; he knows the challenges and “what works.” He co-developed the Leadership Development Institute at the University of Maryland, College Park and taught there for 7 years, and he is a former adjunct faculty member at several colleges including NC State University. He directed a non-profit agency in Washington, D.C. for 9 years and grew it 900% while managing 120 people. As a former world-class athlete, Doug knows that the rigor of change requires regular support from experienced consultants, plus a dash of humor.
Education and Training
Doug’s graduate research at Dartmouth College included development of an assessment to determine risk tolerance and risk aversion. That theme of mitigating risk in business and leadership has prevailed in his continued learning from clients and colleagues in the safety, consulting, executive assessment, and leadership development industries. He is certified in the Hogan suite, DISC, Positive Psychology, several 360’s, several EI assessments, and 5 coaching certification programs. Since 2000, Doug has been a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation.
A perpetual learner, in his 50’s he earned a PhD in Organizational Leadership from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. His research interests include the effect of positive psychology on business leaders, managers, and executive coaches. His dissertation title is “Positive Psychology Coaching Protocols: Creating Competitive Advantage for Leader Development (2018).
Publications and Appearances
Doug loves to share his expertise as a speaker, facilitator and a writer. As a keynote speaker, he has addressed annual meetings, executive retreats, and nonprofit leaders. As a facilitator, he has partnered with clients to design experientially memorable leadership training solutions that range from boot camps to strategic off-sites to contests using customized mobile apps. As an author, he has frequently been published in journals ranging from Family Firm Institutes’ Practitioner, Family Business.org, to the American Society of Safety Engineer’s Professional Safety to Financial Advisor to dozens of webinars and hundreds of guest blogs. There are 200+ videos of his content on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@NextGenerationLeaders
He is a published author of articles on leadership development, AI, family business leadership, succession planning, physician burnout, healthcare, analytics, safety and productivity. Doug has published multiple books:
Legacy Locked (2025). See www.Legacy-Locked.com
The Success Playbook for Next Gen Family Business Leaders (2024)
Objectives and Key Results (OKR) Leadership; How to Apply Silicon Valley’s Secret Sauce to your Career, Team or Organization (2019). See www.OKRLeadership.com
Passionate Action; 5 Steps to Creating Extraordinary Success in Life and Work (2007)
Adventure Coaching; A Guidebook for Action-Based Success in Life and Work (2006)
Doug will not waste any of your time or resources. He expects you to achieve great results. And he always guarantees exceptional value.
Call him now at 704.995.6647 or contact us here or at https://calendly.com/doug-gray/intro-call
For biographies on other Action Learning Associates, Inc leadership consultants and executive coaches, contact us here or review the list of our partners here. We also provide scaled solutions for any-sized organization, anywhere in the world.
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