By Debra Solomon Baker
Gary Johnson Jr.
president,
Progressive Leadership Solutions LLC
What parent, gazing at their infant, has not wished for guidance or even training as to how to best fulfill their new, sometimes overwhelming, "management" duties?
Gary Johnson realizes that, like many new parents, managers, too, are often thrust into their positions without a keen understanding of how to maximize success.
And a one-day training session is simply not enough.
Therefore, his company, Crestcom International Ltd. (which operates locally as Progressive Leadership Solutions, LLC), offers a unique model to improve the skills that managers need. Through a hands-on, interactive approach, Johnson facilitates monthly training sessions for managers in nearly every industry. His clients include Mercy Health Plans, Aschinger Electric, First Financial Federal Credit Union,
St. Francis Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine.
The training stretches throughout a year and covers ten core competencies, with topics ranging from stress management to transformational leadership. Johnson also provides customized programs for individual companies.
Crestcom operates in 54 countries, and Johnson bought the franchise three years ago. During his first year in operation, Johnson trained more clients than any other first year Crestcom franchise in the world and has never finished out of the top eleven franchises in total production and client development.
Johnson firmly believes that one needs to "Find something you love to do and success will follow you." He measures that success by whether or not he facilitates change.
"I am a determined individual who tries not to let too many things get in his way," says Johnson. "The most rewarding part of this work is when someone says, 'I used what we talked about and I was able to impact change on a very real level.'"
Johnson, father of four children, believes in the importance of life-long learning. An avid reader, he recommends It's Your Ship by Michael Abrashoff and First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, as the most profound studies of effective leadership.
"We concentrate on helping leaders and managers to get the best out of their staff. Managers sometimes forget that they are the power of one and should really be asking, 'Can someone else do this good enough?' and, if so, they should delegate responsibility.
At the end of the day, the goal is to get the most out of your team."
Johnson, who grew up in St. Charles, believes in the importance of impacting his community. He reflects on his legacy as a parent, as a businessperson, and as a community member.
"I want people to say, 'Gary Johnson has made a difference.'"
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE INSIGHTS
What website or blog would you
most recommend to others in your company? Why?
"The website I like the best is robertstower.comÑit is inspiring showing the first green building in downtown. If I have to use another, it is the St. Louis Business Journal daily site—it is informative for my staff of what is happening in business in our area, for our other out of town sites—they use the local versions. Also the RCGA weekly web page is good."
Steve roberts
president & COO,
The Roberts Companies
"Snopes.com, a website that attempts to assess the accuracy of various claims/ blogs that are on the web."
Ward Klein
CEO,
Enegizer Holdings Inc.
For more information on the Leadership Circle, please contact John Diefenbach, vice president-membership, (314) 444-1184 or jdief@stlrcga.org.
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