Gary Winters

I work with leaders who find themselves in situations they were never trained for — managing former peers, navigating tough conversations, leading teams through change, or stepping into authority without a roadmap.

Over the past several decades, I’ve worked with leaders in more than 300 organizations across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. What I’ve learned is simple but important: effective leadership isn’t about personality or charisma. It’s about specific behaviors, decisions, and conversations — especially when things get awkward.

Nearly anyone can become a more effective leader if they choose to develop the right skills. You’re not “born” a leader. You learn how to lead, often in the middle of real, uncomfortable situations.

That belief drives my work. I focus on practical, just-in-time guidance for leaders who need help now, not theory they’ll get to later.

I do this in several ways:

• Coaching executives, managers, and first-time supervisors

• Designing and facilitating team-building and leadership development sessions

• Writing concise, practical leadership books

• Publishing the Leadership Almanac, a long-running blog on leadership and management

I’m based in Vancouver, Washington, and work with clients throughout the United States and Canada.