For Yourself

Some of the highlights of working with Karen have been her ability to identify the issues and develop a working plan at our first session. She has a great ability to see within and understand character types and personal strengths (and weaknesses)! She is intuitive and perceptive. She is an excellent facilitator. Karen was able to help my supervisor and me work through some tough issues together, during individual and joint sessions and keep us on task and focused on priorities and process. The testing tools to determine my leadership style and preferences were extremely useful. She interpreted and applied these with tact and wisdom. I continue to use them professionally and personally. They played an important role in the way we problem solved and found consensus in the next steps. Karen helped me learned valuable lessons about clarity in roles and responsibilities.”

~ Organic Food Company, Director of Creative Services

During the past year I have moved into a senior management position and have begun to engage in a number of activities that I have had little experience with in the past. I was far less confident of my abilities to bring myself up to the level I felt I needed to be at. With  Karen’s involvement, I have acquired a framework that allows me to more easily grow professionally. Karen’s approach has been very holistic and therefore more powerful in terms of results and improved self-awareness. I feel equipped to address future developmental needs and face high profile changes within my organization. I would recommend Karen to any person in a management or leadership position looking to expand their horizons within an organization. Karen’s unique approach of working with the whole individual would be particularly effective for persons facing significant transitions or changes in their professional lives.”

~ Health Care Organization, Chief Operations Officer

Over a two year period you worked with me to understand my management style preferences and the management style preferences of others, especially my immediate supervisor. Of particular help were the ‘scripting’ exercises when important conversations were anticipated with my supervisor or other types of personalities with which I had little patience. Those exercises were also beneficial to me when spontaneous stressed conversations would occur. I also benefited from your assistance in the clarification of my personal goals to remain in my current location rather than to relocate for a promotion with an alternate employer. I would recommend your individual executive coaching services to others.”

~ Healthcare, Hospital Mgmt Corp. Vice President

I was referred to Dr. Ostrov by my organization in an effort to hone my listening skills and personal communication style to enable me to optimize my performance in the arena of fund raising Dr. Ostrov’s coaching built upon the positive aspects of my personality, while encouraging me to explore and utilize the opposite personality traits, such as intuition and feeling, to help me develop a more empathic style. While still a work in process, this deliberate “softening” of my personality has helped me achieve both my organizational and personal goals of successfully interacting with higher profile (and higher giving potential) individuals in a more relaxed, graceful and ultimately effective manner. I would strongly recommend Dr. Ostrov to anyone who is looking to better understand their own personality and communication style, and how it enhances or limits one’s effectiveness in dealing with others. Dr. Ostrov will use those findings to broaden one’s skill set which will ultimately enhance behavior that can lead to improved business performance.”

~ Director of Development, Professional Fundraiser Non Profit Foundation

I decided to meet with an executive coach to improve my confidence and effectiveness in a leadership position. I wanted to communicate more effectively with management team, coworkers and direct reports. I learned to approach a situation with an “open door” attitude to encourage effective dialogue with reports, my boss and coworkers. As a person who prefers introversion, I learned ways to bring my thoughts and concerns to the table and keep dialogue open, without alienating others or feeling alienated by them. I felt comfortable working with Karen. She encourages and allows me to define my goals and what is important to focus on in the training rather than imposing her own ideas.”

~ Biotech Firm, Marketing Director

Karen is the space of inspiration. I ‘got” where I want to go next just in the process of talking with her.”

~ Manager and Health Care Provider, Managed Health Care Organizations

For Your Company

Our company has worked with Karen Ostrov of Konect Consulting since 2002. We initially used Karen to improve communications between the principals to resolve a series of disagreements. After successfully resolving the disagreements and creating a steadily improving climate of communication between the principals, we began using Karen to improve the effectiveness of the management team. Several of our department managers have excellent technical skills, but limited managerial and leadership experience. Our company depends on effective teamwork to deliver successful building projects to our clients. Karen has provided practical advice and approaches to our managers on how to improve their communication and collaboration skills. Karen’s coaching has improved the effectiveness of our new managers and has resulted in better teamwork by creating an atmosphere of open two-way communication. Karen has been respectful and sensitive to confidential situations, demonstrated the ability to adjust coaching styles to individual needs, and has shown flexibility in adjusting her schedule to meet the changing demands of our business. I recommend Karen Ostrov as an executive coach for any situation where improved communication and /or managerial effectiveness are needed."

~ Design and Build Firm, Chief Operating Officer