Jim Clemmer
CSP, CTDP
Official Guide
Leadership and change management Expert
Jim Clemmer Quick Facts
- Main Areas
- leadership, management, organizational development, process improvement, retreats, workshops, consulting
- Best Sellers
- Growing @ the Speed of Change, Growing the Distance, The Leader's Digest, Moose on the Table, Pathways to Performance, Firing on all Cylinders, The VIP Strategy
- Career Focus
- Author, Speaker, Management Consultant
- Affiliation
- Practitioner in Residence for the masters (MASc) and doctoral (PhD) students in the University of Waterloo’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology program,Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation awarded by the International Federation for Professional Speakers, Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP) by the Canadian Society for Training and Development
Since his first leadership presentation in 1975, Jim’s practical leadership approaches have been inspiring action and achieving results across the globe. His keynote presentations,workshops, management team retreats, seven bestselling books translated into many languages, articles, blog, and newsletters have helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Jim is a popular columnist and a regular guest on radio and television programs. Among his many achievements, he’s especially proud of tripling the size of his forehead!
Jim is especially excited about reconnecting with Jack Zenger and his team. The CLEMMER Group is now Zenger Folkman's Canadian Strategic Partner. Jim was co-founder of The Achieve Group (which became Canada's largest leadership training firm) when they worked very successfully with Jack's previous company, Zenger Miller. Zenger Folkman is the world’s premier provider of leadership research, assessment, development, and implementation programs. The firm is best known for its unique evidence-driven, strengths-based system for developing extraordinary leaders and demonstrating the performance impact they have on organizations. Zenger Folkman's powerful development system is outlined in their bestselling books, The Extraordinary Leader, The Extraordinary Coach, The Inspiring Leader, and How to Be Exceptional.
The VIP Strategy: Leadership Skills for Exceptional Performance was Jim's first book. It became a Canadian bestseller and was published in Europe and Japan. His second book, Firing on All Cylinders: The Service/Quality System for High-Powered Corporate Performance, was both a Canadian and an American bestseller with over 100,000 copies sold. Jim’s third book was Pathways to Performance: A Guide to Transforming Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization. His next book – focused on personal growth/leadership – was Growing the Distance: Timeless Principles for Personal, Career, and Family Success.Based on the popularity of the approach and leadership framework in Growing the Distance, Jim wrote a companion book entitled The Leader’s Digest: Timeless Principles for Team and Organization Success. He followed this with “an edutaining case study” or work of leadership fiction entitled Moose on the Table: A Novel Approach to Communications @ Work. His latest book is Growing @ the Speed of Change: Your Inspir-actional How-To Guide For Leading Yourself and Others through Constant Change.
Jim has delivered over two thousand customized keynote presentations, workshops, and retreats, as well as consulted to and coached executive teams in hundreds of major companies, the public sector, universities, family businesses, and healthcare organizations. One of his goals, on his many business trips, is to have half as much fun as his family thinks he’s having!
Jim is recognized as a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP) by the Canadian Society for Training and Development. Jim is also a Practitioner in Residence for the masters (MASc) and doctoral (PhD) students in the University of Waterloo’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology program.
Jim lives in Kitchener, Ontario with his wife, Heather. When they aren't working together in The CLEMMER Group or travelling they are spending time with friends and family. Their three adult children, Christopher, Jennifer, and Vanessa, have taught them all about "boomerang kids" by moving back home after university to launch their careers!
Free Articles & Book Excerpts
Free Audio & Video Samples
Jim Clemmer Books
Articles by this expert
SelfGrowth articles and saved writing connected to this expert.
Article
Blame Management for Poor Service
Buried in the publicity of a nasty airline strike was a vivid example of how misdirected management's service improvement efforts can become. To improve service, the airline ordered all attendants to attend three hour "Commitment to Courtesy" classes without pay. "They told us the reason we were losing money was because we were rude to passengers," said one attendant.
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Blazing Our Own Unique Leadership Path
"Following the path of least resistance is what makes individuals and rivers crooked. Few people drift to success."
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Assessing Our Ability to Influence Others
"Ain't no use worrying about the things out of your control, because if they're out of your control, ain't no use worrying... Ain't no use worrying about things in your control, because if they're in your control, ain't no use worrying."
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A Coach's Playbook For Leaders
All organizations have access to more or less the same resources. They draw from the same pool of people in their markets or geographic areas. And they can all learn about the latest tools and techniques. Yet not all organizations perform equally. There is a huge gap between high- and ...All organizations have access to more or less the same resources. They draw from the same pool of people in their markets or geographic areas. And they can all learn about the latest tools and techniques.
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Beyond Manipulating and Motivating to Leading and Inspiring
"People do work for money – but they work even more for meaning in their lives. In fact, they work to have fun. Companies that ignore this fact are essentially bribing their employees and will pay the price in a lack of loyalty and commitment." - Jeffrey Pfeffer, "Six Dangerous Myths About Pay," Harvard Business Review
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Clarifying Our Core Values
"The way to gain a reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." — Socrates A key element of "knowing thyself" is sorting out what's really important to you. Without a clear sense of our personal principles and priorities, it's almost impossible to bring the picture of our preferred future or vision sharply into focus. Investing time and effort to uncover and articulate our personal principles has many important benefits:
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Feedback is an Essential Element of Learning and Improvement
"The major difference between the most and least successful executives is the latter's lack of awareness. Successful executives are critical of their own performance. Unsuccessful executives are critical of the performance of others." — Harry Levinson, The Exceptional Executive At our youngest daughter's sixth birthday party, five-year-old Ryan hit her on the head. As Vanessa cried hysterically, I asked him to apologize. He politely refused. When I asked him why, he replied, "Mr. Clemmer, I don't apologize unless I see teeth marks or blood."
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Deepening Our Discipline
"The bedrock of character is self-discipline; the virtuous life, as philosophers since Aristotle have observed, is based on self-control. A related keystone of character is being able to motivate and guide oneself, whether in doing homework, finishing a job, or getting up in the morning. And, as we have seen, the ability to defer gratification and to control and channel one's urges to act is a basic emotional skill, one that in a former day was called will." — Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
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Communication Strategies, Systems, and Skills
"Before you say what you think, be sure you have." — Malcolm Forbes, past publisher of Forbes magazine Communication is both a symptom and a cause of organization performance problems. Over the years, we've heard hundreds of managers use communication as a vague catchall for every type of organization and team problem imaginable. Generally, the root cause of many "communication problems" was deeper than that.
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Moving Out Of A Career Rut
Brian’s head was starting to throb as he scrolled through the two dozen new voice and e-mails messages on his Blackberry while walking to his cubicle. Looks like another crazy day in the hamster cage he muttered to himself as he saw his phone message light blinking frantically. Brian, age ...Brian’s head was starting to throb as he scrolled through the two dozen new voice and e-mails messages on his Blackberry while walking to his cubicle. Looks like another crazy day in the hamster cage he muttered to himself as he saw his phone message light blinking frantically.
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'Do As I Say, Not As I Do' Doesn't Cut It Any More
More and more, I hear managers express frustration over the behavior of the people they lead. They complain about their failure to take initiative and responsibility, grumble about lateness to meetings or lousy teamwork. But it's so much easier to point fingers elsewhere. For when it comes to their own behavior, many of those same managers aren't acting any differently than the people they complain about.
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Clarifying Personal Purpose
Thinking about death can produce a passion for life. Early in my career, I was introduced to the idea of clarifying my life's purpose through contemplating my death by Charlie Jones, a personal effectiveness and leadership development author and speaker. In his book, Life is Tremendous, he wrote, "You're not ready to live your life until you know what you want written on your tombstone". That's a powerful thought! It forces you to boil away all your goals, plans, and activities to get at the core reason you exist.
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Websites & resources
SelfGrowth-published websites, downloads, and contributor profile websites connected to this expert.
Website
Practical Management and Leadership from Jim Clemmer
For over three decades Jim Clemmer's keynote presentations, workshops, management team retreats, seven bestselling books translated into many languages, articles, blog, and newsletters have helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. The CLEMMER Group is Zenger Folkman's Canadian Strategic Partner.
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Contributor website
JimClemmer.com
http://www.jimclemmer.com
Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Jim Clemmer
"Results are the outcome: They can't be managed any more than we can turn back time. We can't manage results, we can only manage the causes of those results. Organization improvement starts by identifying and measuring the vital areas that have the biggest impact on results. If we're driving through the rear view mirror of bottom line results, we won't see the swamp until we're sinking in it."
-- from Jim Clemmer's article, "Organizational Measurement and Feedback Pathways and Pitfalls (Part 1 of 2)"
Read the full article now!
http://www.clemmer.net/articles/article_226.aspx
"Ask each team member to imagine the team's ideal future state in a few years from now. Listen to each person's vision, then summarize the key themes that have emerged. Some groups also use drawings, cut-outs of pictures, symbols, metaphors, or success stories to paint a picture of what everyone sees in the future."
-- from Jim Clemmer's article, "A Coach's Playbook for Workplace Teams"
Read the full article now!
http://www.clemmer.net/articles/article_260.aspx
"Research continues to show that while there are some 'born leaders' (like there are some child prodigies, naturally talented athletes, or gifted musicians), the vast majority of effective leaders are self-made. Strong leaders put learning and personal development high on their priority list. They have developed strong improvement habits that have built strong leadership skills."
-- from Jim Clemmer's article, "Personal Improvement Planning and Discipline"
Read the full article now!
http://www.clemmer.net/articles/article_69.aspx
Contacting Jim Clemmer
Through the wonders of modern technology, I carry my office with me. I usually return phone calls within 24 business hours and e-mails within 48 business hours (unless I am in Upper Rubber Boot with no phone service or Internet connection). If you’d like to discuss how my work might help you or your organization, give me a call or e-mail me.
| Jim Clemmer
Direct Phone: (519) 748-5968 |
How to get started
My practical leadership and management books, articles and videos have inspired hundreds of thousands of leaders at every level. My site has over 200 free leadership articles and dozens of videos to help you and your organization perform at the highest level.
The best way to learn about what it is I can do for you is to visit my website, http://www.clemmergroup.com.
Other highlights
Transforming everyday workplaces into high-performing organizations is The CLEMMER Group's specialty.
Jim delivers highly customized inspirational keynotes to professional associations and internal employee gatherings around the world. His practical workshops and retreats for management and executives are focused to help your team break down the barriers to success.
The CLEMMER Group's highly respected team of associates are proven implementation experts. They will take your team from inspiration to application with concrete steps to help you develop better processes that will reduce costs and increase productivity.
Whatever your needs the CLEMMER Group has the tools, training and experience to set you on the path to personal and professional excellence.
Discover how The CLEMMER Group can help your organization with:
Jim's Keynote Presentations
Practical Workshops
Management Team Retreats
Coaching and Training
Or contact us for a free consultation.