Assist Leadership | Leadership Coaching & Management Consulting

Hispanic Leadership Institute

“I am proud to serve as an Executive Coach for each Fellow selected for the Hispanic Leadership Institute, State University of New York for the second year.”

Details about the Institute may be found on the following web site:

Click Here….

About

Garry Sanders, Principal, Assist Leadership, brings thirty years of leadership experience to coaching.

My coaching practice serves both individual leaders and teams. I see my mission as a coach to being a ladder–a steady presence to help clients as they discover their strengths and courage, and to serve them as they transform themselves and their organizations. I received a Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University at Albany, SUNY. I am a member of the International Coaching Federation and an Affiliate Member, ICPA, at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School affiliate. I am a certified practitioner of Leadership Circle Profile™ Certification for Individual Leaders and Teams. I also provide the Professional Strengths, Values, and Story Survey, a tool that helps clients assess their own motivations and narrative intelligence using story type. This work is based on Carl Jung and Carol Pearson.

For some potential clients, it is important to know more about a coach’s background: I have served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the largest university-connected research foundation in the world, and began my career as a United States presidential management fellow. My primary career experience has been in Research Administration, a multi-operational service that supports university faculty and researchers. I am most proud of the teams I have had the honor and pleasure to lead throughout my career.

I have served as a faculty member for the National Council of University Research Administrators’ Executive Leadership Program and focused training for NCURA on leadership style and influence. As well, I coach individuals from varied professional backgrounds and experiences in and outside of higher education, including attorneys, marketing leaders, and not for profit executives.

In addition to my coaching practice, I have served as president of my house of worship in the Albany, New York area and serve other volunteer organizations. I play piano in local jazz and rock bands. I continue to believe that one of my greatest accomplishments in life, and as a leader, has been learning to manage stuttering as an adult, through therapy and practicing public speaking.

Enough about me! I am interested to learn about you and how Assist Leadership can serve you.

“Assist Leadership is proud to sponsor the 13th Annual Awards Celebration for the Capital District Women’s Employment Resource Center.” Click Here for more details.

Services

The goal of Assist Leadership is to provide individuals and organizations with outstanding coaching and consulting in leadership development and team building. This service includes coaching leaders and teams through organizational stresses and challenges.

Leadership Development

Understanding and addressing leadership development priorities that will serve the client and their organization. Read More

Coaching Teams

Working with teams toward excellent collaboration and communication to serve operational needs, to launch new projects, or to develop team leadership skills. Read More

Succession Planning

Assisting organizations in developing new leaders as part of plans for leadership succession at all levels: executives and operational team leaders. Read More

Leadership Problem Solving

Helping organizations solve business problems by ensuring that leadership is focused on clear and purposeful teamwork, strategic thoughts, and actions in a safe, confidential, and transparent manner. Read More

International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics

Testimonials

“I would like to say that I feel that I have personally benefited from Garry’s excellent leadership coaching skills. Our regular coffee off-site conversations have, in essence, been coaching sessions for me in my role as president. I was able to confide in him safely, discuss options, and learn new skills that have helped me in my own learning and development. He is a great executive coach!”
President, Top-rank Public University, United States
My life was in a period of transition with family life, career, and volunteer activities outside the home. I needed some life coaching to bring perspective and confidence to life’s decisions. Garry was great – guiding, listening, and coaching me to move solidly into my next phase of life.
Research Administration Leader, West Coast United States
“I worked with Garry shortly after I became a partner at my law firm. My main goal was to improve my leadership skills and confidence as I began the new role with my firm. Garry and I worked on those skills, and also focused on other skills that would assist me in networking and making connections. My sessions with Garry were invaluable, and greatly improved my confidence in my new role.”
Partner, National Law Firm
Garry is a highly valued and trusted advisor. When working with him on difficult business and leadership issues, he has always provided careful thought, wise counsel and reasonable options toward solution. He understands people well, and I have watched him expertly navigate a wide variety of personal and professional styles, always landing at a successful conclusion that many with less fortitude could not have managed. Garry is at the top of my list for senior level coaching needs.
Vice President, human resources
“Garry’s coaching helped me sort through my thinking as I worked to grow myself as a coach. He brainstormed ideas for my website with me and enabled me to create one that is uniquely me, reflecting my background as both coach and former federal executive. His quiet way of asking provocative questions helped me to see my skills and capabilities in a new light and develop ways to use them to serve my clients better. His gentle humor reminded me to get beyond myself to focus on growing my clients as leaders.”
Former Federal Agency Executive, and Leadership Coach
“There are a lot of professional coaches, but I think Garry Sanders is the real deal. Lots of people talk about aligning professional work with personal values. Behind the scenes, I’ve seen Garry live that alignment every day, decision after decision – without any fanfare or need for special recognition. In the years I have worked with him, Garry has consistently worked to build and strengthen relationships and give his colleagues opportunities for professional and personal growth. I think his approach is the secret to his success, and one I hope to emulate with my own company.”
Founder, HR Law Practice, Northeastern United States

“I would like to say that I feel that I have personally benefited from Garry’s excellent leadership coaching skills. Our regular coffee off-site conversations have, in essence, been coaching sessions for me in my role as president. I was able to confide in him safely, discuss options, and learn new skills that have helped me in my own learning and development. He is a great executive coach!”
President, Top-rank Public University, United States
My life was in a period of transition with family life, career, and volunteer activities outside the home. I needed some life coaching to bring perspective and confidence to life’s decisions. Garry was great – guiding, listening, and coaching me to move solidly into my next phase of life.
Research Administration Leader, West Coast United States
“I worked with Garry shortly after I became a partner at my law firm. My main goal was to improve my leadership skills and confidence as I began the new role with my firm. Garry and I worked on those skills, and also focused on other skills that would assist me in networking and making connections. My sessions with Garry were invaluable, and greatly improved my confidence in my new role.”
Partner, National Law Firm
Garry is a highly valued and trusted advisor. When working with him on difficult business and leadership issues, he has always provided careful thought, wise counsel and reasonable options toward solution. He understands people well, and I have watched him expertly navigate a wide variety of personal and professional styles, always landing at a successful conclusion that many with less fortitude could not have managed. Garry is at the top of my list for senior level coaching needs.
Vice President, human resources
“Garry’s coaching helped me sort through my thinking as I worked to grow myself as a coach. He brainstormed ideas for my website with me and enabled me to create one that is uniquely me, reflecting my background as both coach and former federal executive. His quiet way of asking provocative questions helped me to see my skills and capabilities in a new light and develop ways to use them to serve my clients better. His gentle humor reminded me to get beyond myself to focus on growing my clients as leaders.”
Former Federal Agency Executive, and Leadership Coach
“There are a lot of professional coaches, but I think Garry Sanders is the real deal. Lots of people talk about aligning professional work with personal values. Behind the scenes, I’ve seen Garry live that alignment every day, decision after decision – without any fanfare or need for special recognition. In the years I have worked with him, Garry has consistently worked to build and strengthen relationships and give his colleagues opportunities for professional and personal growth. I think his approach is the secret to his success, and one I hope to emulate with my own company.”
Founder, HR Law Practice, Northeastern United States

FAQ’s

What do you do as a coach?

I work with people that aspire to do or change something about their organizations and their lives. Leadership coaching supports a client in aligning their behaviors and actions to achieve results that are most important to their career and personal success, and to the client’s organization if applicable. My clients can be individuals or a team. The coaching plan, including specific goals and objectives, is designed jointly with the client. Sometimes, a client’s employer serves as a “sponsor” of the engagement and we will shape the coaching plan together: client, sponsor, and coach. There will be agreement on a beginning date, an end date, milestones, and costs. We will discuss how and when we will meet: in person, via phone, or video technology. (I typically have no preference.) Coaching with me is a forward-leaning activity. My focus in coaching is on present and future success. It is non-linear. Together, client and coach: we learn, discover, try new thinking and approaches, reflect, learn more, struggle, plan, support, revisit, and celebrate. Again, coaching—like life itself– is a non-linear journey. I find this work to be rewarding and challenging and enjoyable.

How and when do we meet?

We will agree on days and times to meet, and the anticipated length of each session. Generally, coaching sessions for individuals last approximately one hour. Coaching sessions may be in person, by phone, or Skype or FaceTime, or other video technology. Team coaching times and schedules will vary based on the number of team members and the complexity of the issues and tasks that are often involved in working with numbers of people.

What else should I know about coaching?

As coach, I treat my clients’ aspirations and growth as paramount, and to assist them in achieving goals. I do this by asking pertinent questions, making requests, and making observations, and supporting more self-awareness and accountability. I ask questions that are intended to help the client find clarity, direction, and momentum. We will have purposeful conversations. Coaching may involve personal issues or life conditions related to the client’s goals and objectives, and the client’s effectiveness in reaching them. My experience is that good coaching coaches the whole person: mind, language, and somatics (body). I will always ask the client’s permission to explore any of these or other domains.

Is Coaching considered “therapy”?

No. Coaching is not therapy, psychological counseling, or social work, even though the coaching work may address personal issues or life conditions that impact on professional effectiveness. Also, coaching conversations do not constitute legal, financial or business advice. I will always be supportive of the client’s efforts to seek other professional assistance.

Is Coaching considered “consulting”?

A consultant is typically asked to either solve or recommend solutions to a business problem of some kind. This is different than coaching. Nevertheless, I have practical experience covering several different functional areas across different organizations, especially in academic research institutions. I do offer consulting services. I will be glad to talk with clients in advance to ensure that the workscope we agree upon is properly defined so that clear lines between coaching and consulting are established.

What about confidentiality?

All substance of coaching agreements and client conversations will be held in confidence. Like all certified coaches, I want my clients to know that basic client contact information (not content of coaching conversations) may need to be submitted to the International Coach Federation (ICF) as part of my ongoing accreditation. I will always contact and ask my client before any information is released. Elsewhere on this site is the International Coaching Federation’s Code of Ethics. I abide by this Code. I encourage my clients to read it.

What about costs?

Fees can be per session, or by retainer for a specific purpose or period or project. Regardless, coaching has an agreed upon scope and objectives. Costs will differ whether the engagement is for individual or team coaching, or a combination. Also, costs will depend on whether there are assessments to be administered to facilitate achievement of coaching goals (e.g. Leadership Circle™ and other tools, such as DiSC™ for individuals and teams.) Coaching engagements can last from one to two months, to twelve months or more, depending on the needs and desired outcomes.

Articles

Ask the Leadership Coach

Sticky PostOn December 19, 2016

To serve you, I would need to know more about you, and your experience in leadership, and what dynamics exist between you and your boss and you and those you lead. I am glad to hear that your boss shared with you that the comment was not based on your integrity or the quality of your work products. So, rest

Ask the Leadership Coach

Sticky PostOn December 19, 2016

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” Madame Curie I wanted to begin my response to your question with the above quote from Marie Curie, the early twentieth century Polish physicist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. My reason is to

Ask the Leadership Coach

Sticky PostOn December 19, 2016

I am surethat somereaders will identify with your situation and question. My assumption is that you enjoyed the day-to-day business of research administration, helping faculty, and solving transactional problems in pre-award or post-award administration. Now you arefindingless time to do the work in which you excel, and that you are comfortable doing. Perhaps you are mourning a loss of role

See All Posts

Contact

I am delighted that you are taking time to learn about Assist Leadership. I hope to learn more about you and your leadership journey.

PRINCIPAL:

GARRY SANDERS

PHONE NUMBER:

(518) 588-0992

EMAIL ID:

gsanders@assistleadership.com

Top

Leadership Coaching and Consulting for Individuals and Teams

Leadership Development

Coaching Teams

Succession Planning

Leadership Problem Solving

My life was in a period of transition with family life, career, and volunteer activities outside the home. I needed some life coaching to bring perspective and confidence to life’s decisions. Garry was great – guiding, listening, and coaching me to move solidly into my next phase of life.

My life was in a period of transition with family life, career, and volunteer activities outside the home. I needed some life coaching to bring perspective and confidence to life’s decisions. Garry was great – guiding, listening, and coaching me to move solidly into my next phase of life.

PRINCIPAL:

PHONE NUMBER:

EMAIL ID: