About Deborah
Who is Deborah Slobodnik?
Deborah Lipman Slobodnik is a distinguished senior organizational consultant, trainer, and coach, recognized for her extensive experience in guiding organizations through complex change, fostering cohesive teams, and developing effective leaders. As a co-founder and principal of Options for Change LLC, she has dedicated over 25 years to advancing the fields of organizational development and family systems theory, integrating them to create practical and impactful strategies.
Her reputation is built on a unique ability to merge insights from family systems with contemporary organizational development theories, leading to powerful approaches for aligning organizational culture, teams, and leadership with future business visions. Slobodnik's methodologies are designed to address the intricate human dynamics that often underpin change efforts, offering “the antidote to the real human issues that undermine all change efforts.”
What is Deborah Slobodnik known for?
Deborah Slobodnik is widely known for her expertise in facilitating organizational change, improving team functionality, and enhancing leadership capabilities. She has developed highly regarded workshops, including "Making Change Happen™" and "FasTeams® for Leaders," which have been delivered to a global audience of leaders, coaches, and consultants. These programs are celebrated for their effectiveness in navigating resistance to change and revitalizing stalled teams.
Her work extends to developing practical tools, such as the co-authored FasTeams® web-based toolset, which provides leaders and managers with a structured process for building and sustaining high-performing cross-functional teams. Slobodnik's approach emphasizes assessing and intervening in dysfunctional team behaviors to improve productivity, particularly within cross-functional and virtual environments.
She is also recognized for her insights into influencing difficult individuals, a critical skill for gaining buy-in for new strategies and initiatives within organizations. Slobodnik's teaching at MIT's Sloan School of Management on improvisation and leadership further highlights her focus on adaptive communication and leadership styles necessary in today's dynamic global workplaces.
What is Deborah Slobodnik's background and experience?
With over 25 years of experience, Deborah Slobodnik co-founded Options for Change LLC in 1980. Throughout her career, she has consistently applied innovative thinking, blending organizational development principles with family systems theory to create comprehensive solutions for her clients. This integrated approach allows her to design effective interventions that resonate within complex human systems.
Slobodnik's client roster showcases her broad impact across various sectors, including pharmaceutical, consumer goods, energy, healthcare, and finance. Notable clients have included Shire Pharmaceuticals, Colgate Palmolive, Devon Energy, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Travelers Insurance, Thomson Financial, and The New York Times. She has also worked with academic institutions such as Harvard Medical School and Boston College.
Her commitment to sharing knowledge is evident through her regular presentations at international conferences, including events hosted by INC Magazine, Linkage, the Project Management Institute, and Pegasus Communications. She has also contributed to the academic sphere by teaching team leadership at Babson College and facilitating forums for women Executive Directors, demonstrating her dedication to developing future leaders.
What topics does Deborah Slobodnik speak and write about?
Deborah Slobodnik's speaking and writing engagements predominantly focus on critical aspects of organizational effectiveness and leadership. Her key topics include:
- Change Management: Strategies for successfully implementing organizational change, addressing resistance, and fostering adaptability.
- Team Development and Coaching: Methods for building high-performing teams, assessing and interrupting dysfunctional dynamics, and enhancing collaboration in diverse and virtual settings.
- Leadership Development: Cultivating influential leaders equipped to navigate complex challenges, improve communication, and inspire adaptive behavior.
- Organizational Systems: Understanding and designing interventions within human systems to optimize performance and culture.
- Onboarding: Crucial strategies for integrating new leaders effectively to ensure their success within the first 90 days and beyond.
- Workplace Culture: The interplay of culture and team structures, including implementing transition models for new organizational designs.
Through her workshops like "Making Change Happen™" and "FasTeams® for Leaders," she has consistently addressed the practical challenges faced by leaders and teams, offering actionable insights and tools.
How does Deborah Slobodnik contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
As a Master Coach for Leaders and Teams at the Best Practice Institute (BPI), Deborah Slobodnik plays a pivotal role in advancing BPI's mission to provide cutting-edge insights and development opportunities for leaders. She shares her extensive expertise through various BPI platforms, including webinars and resources, offering valuable perspectives on critical organizational challenges.
Her contributions to BPI's on-demand learning sessions cover vital topics such as "Onboarding: Making the First 90 Days Really Count," which emphasizes the crucial initial period for new leaders. She also leads sessions on "Team Coaching In Real Time," where she teaches how to identify and resolve dysfunctional team behaviors that hinder productivity, especially in cross-functional and virtual environments. Additionally, Slobodnik provides guidance on "Influencing Difficult People," a key leadership skill for achieving organizational buy-in.
Through her involvement with BPI, Slobodnik actively supports leaders in mastering "Tactics for Change Leaders," recognizing change as an ongoing process that demands continuous behavioral adaptation. Her work with BPI underscores her commitment to empowering leaders and organizations with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in an evolving business landscape.