xiv ABOUT THEEDITORS
committees of the world’s largest organizations on improving corporate and
executive performance.
Howard holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University and has completed
advanced studies at the University of Michigan. He currently serves on
three boards of directors, in Europe and the United States. He is also com-
mitted to adding value back to the community through his volunteer efforts
in the health care sector.
Phil Harkins Phil Harkins has emerged as one of America’s leading exec-
utive coaches and organizational development experts. His broad range of
business experience and his knowledge of organizations, cultures, people,
and psychology—combined with Linkage’s proven process and tools—have
made a significant difference for the hundreds of leaders, leadership teams,
and organizations with whom he has worked and coached.
Phil prepared for his role as executive coach by first becoming a senior
manager at Raytheon Company, and then studying with the foremost experts
on human behavior at Harvard University. After completing a doctoral pro-
gram under the advisement of Chris Argyris, the most widely respected au-
thor ity on organizational behavior, Phil returned to industry, where he
applied his expertise as part of the executive team at Keane, Inc. There, he
helped this company become one of the fastest growing and most successful
large software companies in the world. It was at this time that he formulated
his process for helping executives and executive teams develop. This system,
he believes, requires combining a clear perspective with building knowl-
edge, skills, and tools to increase efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and
innovation in their work.
Over the past 15 years, Phil has had the opportunity to coach in long-term
coaching relationships, as well as in short, specific assignments with interna-
tionally accomplished global leaders, leadership teams, and organizations.
What’s even more significant about Phil’s experience is that he has worked
in virtually every sector of business, as well as in nonprofits and government
agencies.
Phil has also emerged as an authority on the subjects of communications
and leadership. His landmark book, Powerful Conversations: How High-
Impact Leaders Communicateis widely read and highly acclaimed as the
textbook for honing leadership communications. His book, Click!,takes com-
munications to the next level in helping leaders to combine communications
with their ability to connect with others. His most recent book, Everybody
Wins,provides the groundbreaking growth story and strategy ofRE/MAX
International, the real estate giant.