One of the most vexing questions in business, according to Tony, is what happens to the typical CEO, President, or Senior Manager when he or she shows up at the office in the morning? How do they go from being "pants-on-one-leg-at-a-time ordinary" to being people who can't communicate at the workplace? This dysfunction at the top can permeate an entire workplace. Tony helps executives find their way back to the realm of the real people, teaching them to set proper (or "shared") expectations with their teams, showing them how to earn respect, and schooling them in the art of the "fierce conversation," frank and informative discussion without unnecessary conflict. In short Tony teaches executives and their companies to be abnormal, i.e. function and communicate at a high level. more »

Tony's tirades are often heard in his team summits; "In the American workplace what passes for normal is nothing shy of disgraceful, and managers ultimately get the performance they tolerate." Tony doesn't specialize in the Kumbaya moment; people don't hold hands and sing. Instead he attacks a dysfunctional organization's central nervous system, drawling out long-buried issues. He recreates those organizations so that, in the end, they band together for common purpose, open clearer lines of communication, and improve productivity. The new, healthier organization trains employees to be higher caliber and to stick with the group. Does this make things easier? "First it makes things harder," says Tony, ever the realist. "But when it's over, everyone is looking for the next hill to conquer." « back