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Patricia M KeeganSenior Consultant | Executive Coach
Accelerating Professional Development / Improving Business Performance
Services
Leadership Development
What is my personal vision of leadership? How will I inspire others and achieve outstanding results for the business?
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Executive Coaching
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360 Degree Feedback
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New Leader Coaching
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Team Development
How can we unite the talent and knowledge of our individuals? How do we operate together to gain consensus, manage conflict, provide support, and deliver results as a high performing team?
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Team Leadership
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Team Development
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Teams in Transition
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Organizational Development
How can we reach every level of our organization to create a positive disciplined culture of excellence?
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Leadership Transition
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Culture Improvement
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Corporate Growth and Downsizing
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Approach
Data is gathered to ensure all project designs reflect a keen understanding of the unique challenges that face individuals, teams, and organizations.
All work is based on enduring principles and researched methodologies that are grounded in human motivation theory, management science, organizational systems theory, and ethical guidelines.
Designs are created in collaboration with leaders and managers to produce and implement programs that are relevant and sensitive to the client's culture.
Clear goals, deliverables, and measurements of success are established early in the engagement that steadily guide clients toward positive results.
Service Details
Leadership Development
Strong leadership and management are essential elements of organizational success.
I engage individuals in a process to discover and articulate their unique
leadership talents and address potential blind spots. A series of one-on-one
meetings include discussions and exercises that help develop insight and strategies
to bring one’s best self to leading and managing.
Researched methods in professional development and skill building are thoughtfully delivered. The process is grounded in human motivation, learning and systems theories and
includes: assessment, goal setting, executive coaching, measurement of progress and the establishment of strategies for continued learning.
Areas of focus:
- Personal vision, values and goals
- Developing effective business relationships
- Strategy development
- Leading and managing change
- Leveraging Performance Reviews
- Delegating
- Succession planning
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Team Development
The ability to quickly form and re-form productive teams is a critical skill for businesses today. The groundwork necessary to form productive teams is often overlooked.
Assistance is provided to new teams, existing teams and teams in transition due to mergers and other organizational changes. Programs are designed in collaboration with team leaders to ensure that the experience is relevant and helps the team produce clear tools and deliverables to use at work immediately.
Designs often include:
- Development of a team's vision and goals
- Clarification of team member roles and responsibilities
- Exploration of the diverse work styles of each team member
- Development of team communication and planning skills
- Development of team conflict management and problem solving skills
- Improvement of working relationships among team members
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Organizational Development
Common scenarios in business today include: reorganizations, leadership transitions and adjustments due to corporate growth and downsizing. Change might also be initiated by leaders to improve the organization's performance or culture. Regardless of how changes are introduced, organizations must respond thoughtfully and quickly.
Work is done with leaders, managers, and supervisors to successfully manage the human aspects of change initiatives. Clients are assisted in planning, communicating and facilitating change efforts that minimize resistance and encourage support and collaboration.
These services often include:
- Education regarding change and change management
- Leading, planning and goal setting
- Communication strategies
- Reducing resistance and gaining support from key players at all levels
- Roles and responsibilities of key players
- Methods to avoid loss of productivity during change
- Methods to lower employee stress during change
- Methods to acknowledge and celebrate achievements
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Bio
Patricia Keegan Ed.D.
Principal / Executive Coach
Patricia M. Keegan EdD
I am an executive coach, consultant and psychologist with over 20 years experience working with individuals, teams and organizations. My work is primarily focused on improving leadership, management, communication and performance.
Client industries have included: high-tech, biotech, pharma, healthcare, higher education, financial services, architectural and design services, and transportation. I enjoy working in both the private and public sectors and with firms ranging from large Fortune 500 organizations to non-profits and small entrepreneurial start-ups.
I also enjoy consulting with and coaching individuals at all levels of the organization. I guide high potentials as they pursue the next level, help new leaders address new challenges or work with derailed executives to help them reconnect with their purpose and direction. As a psychologist and former educator, I bring to each project an understanding of interpersonal and leadership styles, human motivation and organizational systems.
In my earlier background, I was an Assistant Professor at Boston University and a licensed Senior Psychologist at Brookline Psychological Services. I co-founded the management consulting partnership of Keegan and Kanter Associates, a firm focused on executive coaching, team development, and organizational change. I later joined ClearRock Inc. as a Senior Vice President and continue my affiliation there as a Senior Consultant and Coach.
What motivates all my work is my desire to assist people and their organizations in achieving thoughtful and constructive change. I believe in asking the right questions. I am pragmatic and results-oriented in my approach and quickly engage clients in their own learning and development.
Education, Training and Professional Activities
- I earned a Doctorate of Education in Human Development and a Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University. My Bachelor of Science in Education is from the University of Maine.
- My work is influenced by my study and practice in Mindfulness. I have completed over 50 continuing education credits from Harvard Medical School in this area.
- I am an active member of the Human Resource Leadership Forum.
- I enjoy sharing my experience and expertise as a Supervisor for Executive Coaching Candidates at William James College.
- I have been the Chair of the Advisory Council for over five years at Future Chefs, a non-profit that creates pathways to adult work by preparing at-risk youth for high quality culinary jobs and post-secondary opportunities.
what people say . . .
"From the start, Pat brought all her energy and experience, defining a clear action plan to help me on my personal and professional journey, and then backing it up with all the support to see it to fruition. The feedback that Pat collected from senior leaders in my organization provided me with a much richer appreciation of where I needed to focus based on how I was being perceived by others. Pat is incredibly engaging and yet listens with empathy. She exudes confidence and clarity of thinking. I would recommend Pat without hesitation. Just a huge thank you for the privilege to have had Pat as a wise and trustworthy guide on my journey ."
Christopher Arendt, Senior Director, Head of Bio Innovation, Sanofi
"Pat coached me through the transition from Program Director to Executive Director and founder of my non-profit organization by identifying the mindset issues that I needed to address to be effective in a new role and by helping me apply that shift to my communication style and writing. Her support has been essential in helping me stay the course through the challenges of running a start up through economic turbulence and an economic recession. I sincerely attribute my ability to guide my organization effectively during this odyssey to her insightful assessment and effective recommendations. She is a valued advisor to Future Chefs and I look forward to working with her as our staff grows and new opportunities emerge."
Toni Elka, Executive Director, Future Chefs
"Pat encouraged me to view issues from multiple "lenses" and increase my awareness of the different work styles that can lead to miscommunications or misunderstandings. When dealing with staff behavioral issues, feedback must be very direct and specific. I now have stronger confidence in approaching these issues directly to influence positive change. These skills have helped me transform my team into a higher functioning unit. Pat also encouraged me to reach out to several senior leaders to assess how my office can provide service and information in the most effective way. I have made a number of positive changes to enhance the communication between these offices and mine. This experience has given me new tools to continue my growth as a leader. It was a tremendous benefit to step back from the day-to-day and think more strategically with Pat. I am very grateful to Pat for the quality of experience she provided. "
Elizabeth Ogar Senior Director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Pat was incredible to work with and I sought her out to work with a second time as I took on a new position with new responsibilities. She helped me think through my leadership, and challenged me to work on my weaknesses while also focusing on my strengths. I notice myself in relation to others more, and have been more thoughtful in my approach. I wish I could keep Pat in my pocket during the workday! As a result of my coaching experience with Pat I am more confident in my leadership."